Machine Solves Problems For Pennsylvania Dairy Farmer Tn 19>G8> John Gehman, a ment Specialist, The Pennsyl pennsylvania dairyman, pro- vania State University, lijbly became the first man in His Montgomery County the world to seek, through the Agent, Marion Deppen, recog- Agiicultural Extension Service, nized the possibilities in solv of the 'electronic brain’ ing Gehman’s problems which, f o r solving a farm manage- he reasoned, were basically nient problem, according to logistics Or, to put it simply: p j. Becker, Farm Manage- would it be more profitable Farm management specialist R. J. Becker (center) holds punched paper tape on which computer has com municated solutions to farm problem of dairyman John Gehman (right, with wife). Gehman said, “Your ma chine was right.” 'sP*s§t <4 ' ’ > ;,:''~~'' -V' t^ + v , s V/t^V y< l£ s ■v° M ** •* - ' '**• fife W-rV !£■ ’>*■• ' *■ / s ••'• W s% ' f S , *'< *' i' . > *•■"•••.> ,' s ~'' ' % ( '*• , K ' ... C ,y - * \ S< ' - vN> ■■ |^v " > v n vX-' Poultry Feed With BuUt4n Earning Power “The BITS Family” trom 'Eastern o^^^y^Ve^s^tha^assures anowAcd «- s *•' v*X B *o«- BITS si® . ■■. *y > ' Available only from Eastern State* , < "• for German to spend more time milking and managing cows by reducing the time he spent growing feed crops? Results of computer solu tions over the following years have borne" out in practice What Deppen guessed was pos sible. Gehman h»s doubled his herd to 120 cows, installed a new milking system and uses a difterent method of cropp ing. He said, “Your machine was right.” Deppen warned Gehman that the experiment might not work. Gehman’s response was that whatever answer the machine gave he would still make up his own mind. Another possible world first: In December 1963, Paul Bal liet, a Northampton county fanner, reported a farm pro blem to a computer my mail His problem arrived at the University on a questionnane torm in his own handwriting He and Sam Lewis, his coun ty agent, had filled it out together “We are experimenting to find the quickest possible means ol answering a farm, problem",’’ Becker says. Using a questionnaire is something new. The farmer, with the help of his county agent, would fill it our and mail it to the University. The computer then provides the answer which is usually a ser ies of alternative solutions. This information would go V * s S’ < N ¥• ;v. »' "t" /'< ' ' s - - x 't i- V v ■• V SS * A > Ss s ‘ , '' s \ •>- S NS VNN * s'* •.♦ .. -”VV\V', v ' - v \A \' \ ' x/ ' k 'x' ■» •• - f N *• 3, ' *z&s*xv \"- &,»+ s Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 21, 1964 back to the farmer by way of the county agent who then would discuss the alternatives with him. As this program develops, county agents will receive training and become equipped to function m this special area of computer applications. The most important responsibility of the county agent, Becker emphasizes, is to recognize and secure the vital information. The new questionnaire will help the county agent collect the necessary data. Dairy held data trom over 6,000 participating iaimeis goes through electronic com puters at the University which report the dairy practices of the farmers and the ,esults achieved This information is used as part of an educational program to guide dairymen in the improvement of herd man agement on the dairy farms of Pennsyhanna. Similar re cordkeeping and analysis sys tems aie in view for poultry, swune and othei farm enter prises LOOK FOR QUALITY Every house hunter's gioial the veteran will owe the Gov is ito buy a 'home ibunlt with eminent the amount of the VIA. quality materials without pay- payment. mg a premium One quality utem to look for is a roof Of The best reason for working heavy (weight asphalt shingles your tail off today is . . . To wuthithe “iwdlnd relsustant” lalbel morrow' ,s-*, ™ v'\* -y: Local Man Joins National Breeding Firm Ray R, Harbold of Eliza bethtown, Pa. has been as signed to the Lower Dauphin County and Upper Lancaster County area as herd techni cian lor Curtiss Breeding Ser vice He will work with Clifford G-ibble under Pere L. Wickes, of Lebanon, Pa. local distri butor tor the nation-wide arti ficial breeding firm, in making the services of 165 sires of 14 dairy, beef and dual-purpose breeds available to cattle rais ers Harbold qualified for the post through successful com pletion of an intensive two week training course at the Curtiss headquarters farm in Cai y , Illinois Veteians are responsible for the repayment of their G. I, loans Should the veteran de fault on his payments and the Veterans Administration have to pa> a claim to the lender, *■- y- /t • 13 ft*!**'