Field and Pasture                                                   

Field and Pasture is an application designed for handheld computers using the Palm OS.  This application can be used as a reference to determine plant populations in a field or pasture, yield estimation of forage dry matter or grain per acre, bushels of stored grain in bins or piles, and as a quick note pad regarding a given field or pasture.

Population

• For broadcast or established sod- count the number of plants/seeds/etc per square foot of square yard and enter value.  The population per acre will appear next to the input box.
• For row crops- indicate the inches between rows and count the number within 1 foot, 3 feet, or 10 feet of row.  Enter value, and count per acre will appear next to input box.

Yield

• Pasture and hay crop dry matter forage yield can be estimated using the 18in. x 21 ½ in plate meter.  (2.69 ft², 0.98 lb/ft²)
• Provide the inches of forage with meter plate resting on forage mass.  The dry matter available for grazing or harvest (live plant) appears in the output box next to the input.
• Yields for row crops can be determined below.  Determine the amount of row length per 1/1000 of an acre.
• Select the crop from the drop-down list and indicate the average number of grains per plant.
• Determine the number of ears/heads/pods in the length of row required to arrive at 1/1000 of an acre.
• Tap the output box and the yield estimation appears. 
• If you know the exact seed count per pound for the crop you are interested in, provide this number in the box below the crop drop-down list.                   

Volume

• Bushel quantities of stored grain can be estimated in the Volume area.  Provide the diameter, height and in some situations the crown distance.
• Select the type of pile you are working with.  Five pile shapes are accounted for, a round bin/silo, a cone/pile, intersecting cones, a continuous pile, and a bag.  For partially empty bins determine level capacity and subtract the inverted cone volume.
• The bushel estimation appears in the lower right hand corner.

Notes

• General notes on a location can be provided in the notes area.
• Use the -N- button to indicate a new record.
• Use the –S- button to save data.
• Use the –V- button to view the files on record.
• Use the –D- button to delete a record.