Farmers, crop consultants and ag retailers who are frustrated by the complexity of many programs used to generate variable-rate fertility recommendations could find simplicity nirvana in a new web-based program called FieldRx.
The program, which was developed by three Arkansas crop consultants, delivers high-end variable-rate recommendations, yet has a simple user interface that keeps the learning curve short and reduces data input hassles, according to David Hedrick, one of crop consultant-developers at Ag Software Designs.
“We saw the need in our own practice when we started to work with existing PC-based software,” he says. “They are extremely difficult to learn and run well. With our program, it is just a few clicks and you have a recommendation. We can take shape files from any source and create data file for any controller.”
The program is set up to automatically download soil test data from some labs. Fields and products can be batched, and fertility recommendations are easily customizable, he adds. Ongoing developments will add variable-rate seeding and other capabilities.
FieldRx is currently being offered at promotional pricing at 35 cents per acre through January 2011. For information, visit www.fieldrx.com or call (888) 336-0029.