Computer Literacy Priority for Extension Programming

March 12, 2008

In 2008, the Economic Development Institute at Auburn University awarded grant funds to the Escambia County office of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System to conduct programs to enhance computer literacy in the Escambia County area.

In turn, the Escambia County Extension office is partnering with Jefferson Davis Community College, the Escambia County Industrial Development authority, the Escambia County Florida Extension Service, and the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service National Peanut Lab in Dawson, Ga., to complete this project.

CUTLINE: Staci Ingram of the USDA Agricultural Research Service National Peanut Laboratory assists Atmore farmer Brian Bell as (from left) Rachel
Holland, Kevin Holland, Jason Webber and Eric Koehn work with farm
management software.

The sessions began March 5 on computer-assisted farm management and will be carried out in several phases intended to reach a diversity of audiences. In addition to training farmers, the programs include educational programs for displaced workers, small businesses and ordinary citizens who want to enter the digital age. Specifically, there will be classes in computer skills for businesses, electronic communications for novices, electronic job searches for displaced workers, and web design for small businesses. Free classes will be offered on the Atmore campus of Jefferson Davis Community College.

The computer training related to farm business management was conducted March 5 by Staci Ingram with the National Peanut Lab from Dawson Georgia. Two sessions were offered. One related to farm management software (WHOLEFARM). The other related to irrigation scheduling and management (Irrigation Pro). WHOLEFARM is a computer- aided whole farm planning system that allows farmers to use their own cost and yield information to generate budgets that allow them to make decisions to give them the best chance to make a profit.

Irrigator Pro is computer software developed by the National Peanut Laboratory that helps farmers decide when to run their irrigation systems. The objective is to improve economic returns for irrigated peanut production and reduce risk associated with aflatoxin, foreign material, immaturity, off-flavor, chemical residues and negative environmental impact.

Irrigation recommendations are based on more than 20 years of scientific research data and information. The farmers enter their own information including plant date, variety planted, previous crop, soil type and irrigation capacity. The program uses data provided by the farmer and soil moisture indicators to inform farmers of optimal irrigation timing and rate. Through the years, the program has proven to increase yield and quality in peanut production.

In recent years, computers have become much more practical and useful. In many cases, they are essential. Many of us need to improve our computer skills and learn more about how we can use them to our benefit. Additional computer-related training finalized will be scheduled. If you feel you could benefit from some of the programs mentioned, please let us know at (251) 867-7760.

For more Extension news from Escambia County, visit www.aces.edu/EscambiaCounty.

Posted by dreynold on March 12, 2008 11:43 AM
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