The integration of agricultural research results into information management and information transfer technologies can aid agricultural practitioners and farm managers in understanding complex interactions among farming systems components, and in improving whole‐farm resource management. Systems approaches discussed in agricultural literature can be classified as being science‐driven or technology‐driven. Although specific objectives associated with these approaches may be fundamentally different, they share many similar principles. Our main objectives are to identify the common principles of several different systems design and development approaches, and to discuss how we applied these principles to develop the farm management information system entitled Farmbook. Support within the agricultural research community for integration of these farming systems research/extension and systems engineering principles will make it possible to develop high quality farm‐based software for education and technology transfer and ultimately for more efficient agricultural management systems development.
Research Question
The integration of agricultural research results into multidisciplinary user‐oriented products can aid agricultural practitioners and farm managers in whole‐farm resource management. How to accomplish this integration in light of the extreme diversity found among farms and in nature, in addition to the compartmentalized infrastructure of agricultural science, is not completely clear.
Literature Summary
A mathematical and computer modeling approach is being used to integrate agricultural research into management aids. Although this approach has been tried for a number of years, the resultant products have not been widely adopted by farm managers or agricultural professionals. Alternative systems approaches that are complementary to the modeling approach have recently been suggested. Unfortunately, a lack of consensus exists in the agricultural literature pertaining to the specific details of what a systems approach is or how it should be performed.
A proven practical principle of the systems approach, that reduces the risk of producing unusable products, is to include field personnel (farmers, consultants, extension specialists, etc.) in determining what the product should do and how it should function. Systems theory becomes practical by insisting that end‐users of the product be involved in its design and testing.
Study Description
The practicality of the systems approach will be demonstrated by comparing agricultural and nonagricultural systems literature to determine common principles. These systems principles are then demonstrated in the design and construction of the integrated farm management system entitled Farmbook. The goal of the Farmbook project is to produce farm‐based information systems that satisfy the farm managers real computing needs while integrating appropriate agricultural research results.
Applied Questions
What are some common principles of available systems approaches?
Common principles ...
