The Rural Voice, 1980-03, Page 7their own software and these farmers
aren't only recent agricultural school
graduates who have studied computer
terminology.
Among the micro -computers already
available to farmers are models like the
TRS 80, sold by Radio Shack dealers, for
$1200-$1500. and the more complex TRS
80, Model 2, which will retail for between
$5,000 to $8,000, depending on the amount
of hardware purchased.
Two other models readily available are
the Commodore PET, which sells for
between $700 to $2,000 and the Apple 2.
Increasing competition in the computer
field, with more and more companies
hopping on the bandwagon, is likely to
decrease the cost of home models in the
future.
SELLING TO FARMS
In a quick survey of Radio Shack dealers
in the tri -county area served by Rural
Voice, two store managers said they have
sold computers to farm -related businesses.
Dan Doroshenko, manager of the
Stratford Radio Shack store, said he has
sold at least half a dozen TRS -80s to
farmers or farm -related industries. He said
one model was bought by a pork producer ,
and another by a cattleman. He said right
now only the TRS -80 is available, with the
more sophisticated TRS -80 Model 2 coming
on the market later this spring.
Mr. Doroshenko said the farmers
purchasing computers tend to be younger
farmers or else sons who are taking over a
family farming operation.
A salesman at the Owen Sound Radio
Shack said he has had enquiries from
farmers and has sold about 25 computers to
small businesses, although he couldn't say
how many of these were farm operations.
He said in a normal week his store, which
serves a large area, receives up to 50
enquiries about the computer from hobby-
ists to small businessmen.
A salesman at Modern Appliance
Centre, Listowel, said they haven't sold a
home computer to a farmer as such, but did
sell them to a farm implement dealer and a
local feed mill. He said selling to farmers
and small businessmen was a market that
was just opening up in the Listowel area.
But Wayne Pfeiffer cautions that com-
puters aren't necessarily for all farmers.
Speaking at a conference in January on
Computer Use In Agriculture, the profes-
sor cautioned, "Don't go out and buy one
unless you have a good reason."
Mr. Pfieffer said the farmer who might
consider purchasing a computer is one who
is already very organized, but finds
bookkeeping a drudge. He said the
computer can take the drudgery out of the
job, but warns most farmers would have to
take a course in the appropriate computer
language, usually BASIC, so he can
program his machine.
Also, another requirement is a constant
Wayne Pfeiffer, who teaches in the school of
agricultural economics at the University of Guelph,
believes by the mid 1980's, programming a computer
will become as common a task as operating a welding
machine for most farmers.
source of electricity. If someone is
operating the computer in the house, and
someone else is starting up a motor which
uses a lot of electricity in the barn, then
much of the program could be lost.
To overcome this, the computer firms
now offer small, inexpensive pieces of
equipment to keep the flow of electricity
constant.
Mr. Pfeiffer said most land grant
colleges in the United States do have
funding now to provide computer services
directly to farmers. The University of
Guelph doesn't have the same type of
funding so its role will largely be of an
educational nature in the computer area.
Mr. Pfeiffer said the Ontario Automatic
Cropping Budget for Cash Grain Farmers
was developed at Purdue University in the
U.S., but was further developed and
modified at the University of Guelph so
farmers could supply information to OMAF
staff, who run the data through a
computer. Now Mr. Pfeiffer and other
university staff are involved in miniatur-
izing these programs so they can be used in
a farmer's table top computer.
DAIRY FARMS
One program which is putting computers
on the farm is an experimental project
funded by SEMEX Canada.
M.G. Freeman, general manager of
SEMEX, said in mid-February the comp-
any will start putting micro -processors on a
number of dairy farms around south-
western Ontario. The micro -processors,
which are connected to the main computer
at SEMEX, allow farmers to keep track of
their herd's breeding and health record,
milk and confirmation records, etc.,
information which can all be keyed in by
the individual farmer. The farmer will then
receive an activity report on a weekly or
even daily basis which will show him which
cows need special attention, need to be
watched for their first heat after calving or
should be pregnancy tested. The printout
will act as a "reminder system" for the
dairymen, according to Mr. Freeman.
All programming on the SEMEX micro
processors will be done in English, rather
than BASIC, the common computer
THE RURAL VOICE/MARCH 1980 PG. 5