There's big news in precision farming. A powerful new tool is ready to keep tabs on inputs and output down on the farm. The big news comes in the form of a little computer--a Windows CE hand-held.

These computers aren't news in and of themselves. For several years, we've seen folks tapping information into hand-held computers at airports and meetings. We've seen advertisements for them, usually with a businessperson peering into the palmed computer.

MFA has joined that market with a model you are more likely to see in pickups and the pockets of work shirts. By loading an Ipaq (a hand-held computer from Compaq) with software from SST and plugging a GPS receiver into the top of the unit, growers can log geo-referenced data about weeds, poor drainage, weak stands and any other factor that might affect yield. The information can be loaded into existing map layers such as soil fertility and other information used to analyze a field's potential.

SST Stratus allows you to input information on-the-go. You can bring up the field and add information in the pickup, combine or tractor. The only thing you have to do at the end of the season is transfer it to a computer and get it to the local MFA. That can be done online, with a disc or media card.

While a GPS receiver is an option with the hand-held device, it isn't mandatory. Whole-field or in-field information can be entered into the hand-held on site. The GPS option gives the advantage of accurate geo-referenced input. Most common management actions and applications are available in Stratus. Typical entries might include planting operations such as planting date, seeding rate, crop type and variety or hybrid, tillage methods, fertilizer application facts, scouting dates, manure application and pest information.

The SST Stratus software is compatible with MFA's Agricultural Systems Information Lab (ASIL). Like any analysis software, these tools are more powerful with more information. Along with the Stratus software, the Ipaq is a fully functional hand-held computer using Windows CE operating language. It supports other software designed for CE.

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