Ray Massey, an agricultural economist at the University of Missouri, says farmers can make one stop on the Internet to find out about environmental and water quality concerns on their farm.

A Web site called BERM (Business Environmental Risk Management) combines aerial and interactive mapping along with a database of environmental concerns to help land owners pinpoint what state and federal agencies consider environmental concerns on property.

The site uses the mapping capacity of CARES (Center for Agricultural, Resource and Environmental Systems), an information resource unique to the University of Missouri. CARES has a powerful mapping center that can deliver layered map information zeroed in on your farm. The combination of the maps and the information CARES has embedded in the geographic coordinates delivers a report on any parcel of land selected via a web browser.

"The objective is to make farmers aware of environmental concerns," said Massey.

For example, when the site generates a report on a parcel of land, it will include a list of any endangered species thought to exist there. The list includes links to find more information about the species and rules to protect it.

"The real objective with showing the endangered species isn't to alarm farmers, it's to let them know that they may be in a region where cost share help is available for conservation and habitat improvement. So if there is something you're not using, like a stand of woods, you might be able to make certain improvements on that land at a discounted cost," said Massey.

Aside from information on water quality and watersheds, another useful tool on the site is a data set that produces what is called the "windrose layer." This layer is compiled of wind data that is tallied from remote weather stations scattered throughout the state. Using 20 years worth of data, the windrose layer shows long-term wind tendencies for a location.

Massey said that this kind of information is helpful when planning for a CAFO or other land uses that might affect air quality down wind.

The Web address for BERM is: www.cares.missouri.edu/BERM. Check out the CARES Web site at: www.cares.missouri.edu. Both sites are worth a click through, especially if you want to get a larger grasp on where information technology, digital mapping and loads of geographical data might lead in the future.

Pumping so much map and data information through Internet connections is a clarion call for bandwidth. CARES is in the business of gathering information and rendering it into files that can be layered on digital maps. Massey figures the outfit probably has 50 different information layers for Missouri--a heavy load for a dial-up connection.

With the dearth of high-bandwidth Internet connections in the countryside, this might be something you want to do in the company of a local NRCS or extension agent. They'll be a good resource for advice on the findings, but maybe more importantly, they'll be likely to have an Internet connection faster than yours. Or visit a friend in town who has DSL.