Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
3-4-02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Don Hofstrand, Iowa State University Extension, (641)-423-0844, dhof@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515)-294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
New Electronic Tool Aids Ag Decision Makers
There's a free, new Internet site that provides a wealth of ag business information. It is Iowa State University (ISU) Extension's "Ag Decision Maker" and it can be found at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm.
This decision-oriented agricultural business Internet site is designed for farmers, lenders, farm managers, agriculture instructors and others. It provides up-to-date information from agricultural economists at Iowa State University and other Midwest universities and institutions.
It has been available since 1996 as a monthly print publication and in the future those receiving the print version will pay a fee. Those interested in subscribing to the print publication should contact Trece Lonneman at (641)-923-2856 or via e-mail at trece@iastate.edu.
Don Hofstrand, ISU Extension farm management specialist and editor of Ag Decision Maker, urges ag professionals and instructors to check out the Web site. "The new online version offers a number of interactive tools we can't offer in the print publication," he says. "Four types of information offered on the site, including several spreadsheets that will help users make decisions on a variety of farm production and management topics." The four types of information include:
Newsletter Articles
This section is updated monthly and provides analysis and insight into
many of the issues facing modern agriculture. All newsletter articles
published since 1996 are available.
Decision Files
More than 160 Decision Files provide information and procedures for analyzing
and finding solutions to many of the decisions facing farmers and agribusinesses.
Each Decision File can be printed or read from your computer screen.
Decision Aids
Many of the Decision Files have Decision Aids for on-line computation.
Just enter your figures into the spreadsheet to analyze your individual
situation and save the analysis as a file on your computer.
Teaching Activities
Many of the Decision Files have Teaching Activities for use in high school
classrooms. Students can complete the Teaching Activities from information
provided in the Decision Files and save or print the document and provide
it to their instructor. Teachers can access a restricted area of the site
to get answer keys and other teaching tools.
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ml: natlagwk (National Ag Week)
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