Decision
Information
Systems for
Citrus
An Artificial Intelligence Expert System for the Florida Citrus Industry
Coordinated By
IFAS DISC Working Group
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
DISC -- An exciting
new tool for Florida Citrus Growers and Production Managers
is being developed. A cooperative effort to be coordinated by The University
of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences -- IFAS -- between
the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, the Citrus Research
& Education Center in Lake Alfred, FL, the Southwest Florida Research
& Education Center in Immokalee, FL, the Indian River Research &
Education Center in Ft. Pierce, FL, and the Horticultural Sciences Department,
plus Industry experts, growers, production managers, crop consultants and
Extension Agents, is developing a user friendly information system for making
decisions.
How would you like to design a virtual grove and do a "what if" routine before
you planted? It could be possible to plug in your soil type, scion and rootstock,
planting distances, geographic location, your production costs, and more,
into a model that taps into several databases , including one on citrus economics
with predicted future prices and crop volumes, located on a Web Server or
a CD-ROM. It could predict what the possible profits or loss would be at
the time of maturation of the grove.
Or, run models which included automated weather inputs to find out if you
need to control pests, irrigate, or any number of other activities. The models
would use the LATEST information and tools.
Modules or stand alone components could be made available for downloading
from the INTERNET, such as this prototype program from the Agricultural and
Biological Engineering Department called
CPG - Citrus Pathogen
Guide Software for Windows - (preliminary copy - see disclaimer),
or would be available for purchase or on a subscription fee basis.
A comprehensive INFORMATION SYSTEM for Florida Citrus already exists as The
Florida Agricultural Information Retrival System,
FAIRS. A diagnostic guide for
citrus diseases is also being developed. By putting all of these integrated
modules under one umbrella concept -- DISC -- growers can have input on what
modules the system should include and the priorities for the timing of the
development of different modules. During such a process, data gaps will be
found that might direct where emphasis should be placed on future research.
What needs to be done for this to happen?
First of all, we need the support of the end users of this product, the Florida
Citrus Growers and Production Managers. A unified effort must be promoted
between all groups and interests. The plans are to include growers and other
industry people every step of the way. DISC is specifically intended to make
OUR INDUSTRY more competitive in the future!!!
For you advanced growers who are already online, show your fellow growers
what can be found on the INTERNET. Encourage them to get online and use the
Information Highway as a resource of information. You already know it's value,
we need to share this with more Florida Citrus Growers and Production Managers.
Please visit the DISC Link Page for more
references.
Development of Decision Information Systems for Florida Citrus, FCPRAC
Project No. 971-55 - the 1998 Progress Report
(In HTML Format or
In
PDF Format)
Decision Information Systems for Florida Citrus: Phase II - the FCPRAC
Project Preproposal FY 1999-2000 Grant Program
(In HTML Format or
In
PDF Format)
Contact:
disc@ultimatecitrus.com
For more information on DISC, contact one or more of the following people
on the DISC WORKING GROUP PLANNING COMMITTEE:
Thanks for your support, visitor number
, since Feb. 21, 1996.
Main DISC Web Page
| DISC Link Page |
The Ultimate Citrus Page
| Arapaho Citrus
Management
Contact:
disc@ultimatecitrus.com
This page was last updated on May 22,
2001
E-mail Webmaster.
