The Iowa Crop Management Database: An Agronomic and Economic Information Recording Tool

The Iowa Crop Management Database (CMD) is designed to record field-by-field agronomic and economic information for crop production in Iowa. Iowa State University Extension is promoting use of such comprehensive records by producers and crop consultants to improve management decisions and farm profitability. Extension staff can use this information and summaries of these records in educational programs, and to document pollution prevention through refined crop management practices. The CMD program is a relational database designed on a model first developed by Pennsylvania State University. The Iowa version was expanded and developed to include a wider range of information resources needed by Iowa producers as a result of a cooperative effort between Extension, state agencies, and agribusiness organizations. The program can meet record-keeping needs for field-by-field agronomic planning, economic analysis, and regulatory documentation. The CMD program is being widely advertised in Iowa by newsletters, direct mailing, brochures displayed at ISU Extension offices, over the World Wide Web and on local radio stations. ISU Extension field specialists with responsibilities for crop production and farm management have been trained in the use of the program. ISU Extension Agribusiness Education is offering a one day short course to train CMD program users. The course will be held on December 10, 1997, January 14 & 21, 1998 and February 11, 1998