Survey Examines Farm
(Continued from Page A 1)
Those are some of the ways that
local fanners use computers to
improve farm viability and profita
bility. And while the technology
continues to evolve, one reason for
the purchase of a computer is clear
improved management of the
farm.
Almost a dozen computer users
and those interested in purchasing
a computer attended a demonstra
tion provided by Tony Talarigo,
owner of Tony’s Electronics,
Bcmville, recently at Tulpehocken
High School.
While Talarigo provided insight
into the inner workings of compu
ters helping to explain how they
work Lancaster Farming pro
vided a survey of questions to
members of the Tulpehocken
Adult Young Farmers
Association.
Lancaster Fanning spoke to several of the
members about the use of computers and the
farm. The survey included 10 questions that cov
ered a variety of topics.
Lancaster Fanning addressed the questions to
William and Lolly Lesher, BemviUe; Donna and
Jim Dietrich, Hamburg; Pat and Dennis Brass,
Myers town; and Denise Stump. Stumpland
Farm, BemviUe.
They arc dairy and crop farmers from through
out Berks County and provided some insights
into how they use computers and what they plan
to do to improve their use.
1. What computers do you use, and how?
William Lesher We use a Swan 486 system
with the following software: business financial
accounting with Quicken. We use Lotus and
Word Perfect for various things in our dairy store
and dairy farm. We also use a Packard BeU sys
tem for LoUy’s consulting business which goes
with her on the road. We also have a nutrition
program buUt into it
Doraia Dietrich: We use a Gateway 2000
486DX50. ‘
Pat and Dennis Brass: We use a Packard Bell
Legend 2000.
Denise Stump: We use a Pentium-based
computer.
2. What software do you use, and how?
William Lesher: For our nutrition work, we
use a dairy nutrition program called Spartan from
Michigan State University. We use Quicken for
our business financial records and payroll. We
uses Lotus for spreadsheet work and a word pro
cessing program, Word Perfect, for signs, letters,
etc.
Donna Dietrich: Our Windows 95 system is
used by my husband, Jim, who sells seed com for
Pioneer Company. Recently we are checking
into purchasing Farm Works for field mapping,
yields, and crop record keeping.
Pat and Dennis Brass: We use a Windows 95
program that contains Quickbooks, a banking
program, S.A.T., the Encarta Encyclopedia, P.C.
Bible Study, and Math Blaster.
Denise Stump: We use Easy, FACCTS, PC
Dart (a program from the Raleigh DHIA), and
Field Map.
3. Why did you decide to use a computer at
your farm?
William Leshen Lolly learned to use the com
puter in college. In her first job out of school,
when we went into partnership with my parents,
we decided to put the financial part of the busi
ness on the computer.
Donna Dietrich: We decided to use the com
puter for the seed com business and for our finan
cial records.
Pat and Dennis Brass: I wanted to cut down on
my paperwork.
4. How, exactly, has your computer helped
you improve farm efficiency and
profitability?
Lolly Lesher: It has made recordkeeping
easier, mote organized, and the data more acces
sible. Information is the key to management Our
computer helps us retrieve, organize, and under
stand data quickly and in a variety of forms.
Donna Dietrich: Our computers and recording
are more accurate.
Pat and Dennis Brass: So far, it hasn’t!
Denise Stump: We just got it
5. Do you use the Internet? If
so, how?
Lolly Lcshcr: Not yet But we
look forward to getting on Dairy-
C Editor’s Note: Dairy-L is a
“user’s forum” where dairy far
mers and industry representatives
can share information about all
aspects of dairy farming, available
an the Internet.)
Donna Dietrich: No.
Pat and Dennis Brass: Yes. We
use it for school reports, farm
information, and communication
with family overseas.
Denise Stump: No.
6. What about the Internet, if
you use it, do you use to improve
farm efficiency and
profitability?
( Editor’s Note: This question
was answeredpreviously by sever
al computer users.)
Computer
Pat and Dennis Brass: The Inter
net provides easy access to articles
from Dairy-L and other maga
zines. It allows us to correspond
with our feed management
consultant.
7. What arc some other
things you and your family uses
the computer for?
William Leshen Lolly uses the
laptop computer for her public
relations business. It provides a
great source for information and
allows ha to Operate her database
system.
Donna Dietrich: Our children
use it for games. The CD Rom
equipment is used for music.
Pat and Dennis Brass: Our old
est daughta uses it for reports and
homework. The younger children
play educational games on,it. We
use it to keep in touch with family
and Mends and we do our banking
from home.
8. What about computers in
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generation after generation.
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by the people who use us, we have served the needs of rural Americans for
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credit to agriculture.
We make loans at competitive interest rates for all kinds of purposes. We also
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A Customer Owned Business
Use
general, do you find difficult or
frustrating?
Lolly Leshen It is easy to get
frustrated using computers
because we use what we have
learned to do. Knowing it can do
more but learning how is tough.
Not using the computer to its hill
potential is expensive and
frustrating.
Donna Dietrich: (I find it diffi
cult) basically understanding the
whole system.
Pat and Dennis Brass: The hard
est is trying to make sure the soft
ware and computer work together.
Denise Stump: The hardest
thing probably will be learning
how to use everything, but there
are plenty of people willing to give
dps. Also it’s frustrating when
someone is scared to use it because
they’re “afraid” they might mess it
up.
9. What about the Internet do
you find difficult or frustrating?
( Editor’s Note: This question
Southeastern PA
Keystone Farm Credit
(800) 477-9947
Western PA
Penn West Farm Credit
(800) 998-5557
went unanswered by the survey
participants.)
10. How has the Internet
helped your farming operation
in ways that you hadn’t
foreseen?
( Editor’s Note: This question
also went unanswered.)
Apparently, few many respon
dents, the Internet is a new and
untested area, particularly for
many aspects of the farm.
Overall, many participated in
one of several general meetings
recently to learn more about the
inner workings of computers.
They believed they needed more
direction about how to make more
use of the system.
hi the case of Denise Stump,
Stumpland Farm in Bemville, she
noted, “We just got ours and
haven’t managed to do much with
it yet”
At the meeting, the participants
agreed that using the computer has
helped them in their business but
there was still plenty to learn.
Northern PA
Northeastern Farm Credit
(800) 326-9507
South Central PA
York Farm Credit
(800) 503-8957
uenSTS