Using crop and pest models for management applications

Models that simulate crop production systems are useful tools to aid in crop management. The manager can evaluate numerous management options quickly and select the options most suitable for his situation. The Florida Soybean growth model (SOYGRO) has been implemented with several user interfaces to meet specific management goals. These implementations include a gaming model (SOYGAME), a pest decision model (PESTDEC), an irrigation decision model (IRRDEC) and a strategy evaluation model (SICM). The crop model integrates the effects of weather conditions, crop management inputs and soil conditions on crop yield and the yield changes are reflected in the corresponding profit. Also described in the paper is an automated weather collection and reporting system for the acquisition and use of weather data.