Stephen Harsh - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Stephen Harsh

The business of farming has entered a new era-an age where hard work is perhaps not as key to suc... more The business of farming has entered a new era-an age where hard work is perhaps not as key to success as is careful decisionmaking. Competitive pressures within the industry, including international competition, have resulted in a continued narrowing of the profit margin. High levels of financial leverage are commonplace, resulting in heightened financial risks. Moreover, production options have inc~eased significantly as a result of research, technology availability, and environmental concerns. Informed decisionmaking is required to ensure profitable performance of the farm firm and its survival over time. Additionally, government agencies have imposed greater reporting requirements on the farmer. Together, these forces have created an increased need for rigorous systems of information collection and processing to support key managerial decisions. During the past decade, information collection and processing options available to farmers changed substantially. Developments in computer and telecommunications technologies increased the potential for improved measurement, processing, and timely information dissemination. However, adoption of these technologies has been slower than expected. Various projections made nearly a decade ago forecasted that most commercial farmers would be using computers by 1990. These projections have proven to be overly optimistic even though computer hardware and software capabilities have improved remarkably and prices have declined 50 to 75 percent in nominal terms, and even more in real terms. Regional research project NC-191, Farm Information Systems, was developed to study farmers' use of information and the adoption of modern information systems. The committee had two objectives. The first of these was to "analyze the need for, value of, and factors affecting the adoption of farm information systems". To meet this objective, the committee collected data in two primary ways: A survey of many farmers seeking a general description of farm information system design and use, and personal interviews and focus group discussions designed to answer very specific questions about the decisionmaking process and farmers' use of records. A brief summary of the findings of the farmer survey is reported in this document.

Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, Apr 1, 1997

Automated milking systems is a new technology recently developed for the dairy industry. This pap... more Automated milking systems is a new technology recently developed for the dairy industry. This paper examined the economic consequence of using this technology in place of a conventional parlor system on dairy farms in the Netherlands and in the US. The approach is general and can also be applied to other farm and price conditions. The base analysis indicates that

Journal of Dairy Science, Aug 1, 2002

This study examines the experiences and results of major dairy farm expansions in Michigan and Wi... more This study examines the experiences and results of major dairy farm expansions in Michigan and Wisconsin. Twenty dairy farms that had one-time herd size increases of at least 20% between 1988 and 1998 were selected, surveyed, interviewed, and analyzed. A case study format reveals individual experiences and problem solutions. On average, studied dairy farms increased herd size from 296 to 569 cows. The most commonly cited reason for expansion was increased profits. On average, net farm income and return to operator management and capital improved following expansion. The most profitable expansions were highly correlated with modernizing facilities. In addition, a decline in return on assets was, in several cases, due to taking on too many new partners relative to the increase in herd size. Dairy farms were able to increase milk production and experienced a significant decrease in labor and management expense per hundredweight of milk produced through expansion. Outsourcing and the use of consultants increased with expansion. Public relations problems were not substantial impediments for producers who took a proactive approach. Reflecting on the expansion experience, managers indicated that human resource, financial, operations, herd management, and strategic management skills were the most important skills to achieve a successful expansion.

This paper will examine selected current and projected future technologies as they relate to info... more This paper will examine selected current and projected future technologies as they relate to information processing and distribution. The examination is not exhaustive and has as its focal point the agricultural community in general and more specifically animal health· issues. This paper will first review some basic concepts as they relate to information processing and the utilization of information by decision makers. The paper will then examine the various components of an information system and attempt to identify the likely future trends as they relate to these various components.

Significant cost savings may be possible when locally produced biomass is used to heat large buil... more Significant cost savings may be possible when locally produced biomass is used to heat large buildings, farm operations, and heat-intensive commercial ventures such as food processing, greenhouses, and fuel alcohol and biodiesel production. Biomass fuels in this context are solid plant-derived products, including grain, pelleted plant material and wood chips, which are alternatives to conventional fossil fuels. This guide introduces the steps involved in planning the installation of a biomass-fueled heating system that will safely and perhaps economically meet the needs of operators of larger scale heating systems in agricultural, institutional and commercial applications. Critical factors influencing heating system performance include fuel quality, furnace design and exhaust gas venting options to reduce airborne pollution.

University Microfilms International eBooks, 1969

... MAKING, DAIRY FARMS, INFORMATION NEEDS, RISK, INFORMATION SYSTEMS, HUMAN ... EUROPE, FARMS, H... more ... MAKING, DAIRY FARMS, INFORMATION NEEDS, RISK, INFORMATION SYSTEMS, HUMAN ... EUROPE, FARMS, HUMAN POPULATION, MANAGEMENT, NORTH AMERICA ... DU NORD, CATEGORIE PROFESSIONNELLE, COMPORTEMENT, ENTREPRISE, EUROPE, EUROPE ...

Acta horticulturae, Sep 1, 1989

Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Jun 1, 1994

A study was designed to conduct an internal validation of a computerized systems model for health... more A study was designed to conduct an internal validation of a computerized systems model for health management decision support in growing hogs. Evaluation focused on both the alpha-beta tracker, which was employed to predict underlying system variables, and the simulation model itself, which predicted system performance. Both mean absolute prediction error and Theil's u2 statistic were calculated. Simulation scenarios were designed to highlight specific aspects of the model. In addition, a case example was developed to demonstrate the model's logical consistency and its applicability for assessing the economics of health management decisions. Use of the alpha-beta tracker to project data series, including pig deaths and disease prevalence rates at slaughter, was largely unsuccessful. The model consistently predicted hogs marketed such that 0 < u2 < 1. Also, decreased disease rates improved both physical and financial performance as expected. Depending on the quarter involved, the maximum bid to achieve a 50% decrease in the prevalence rates of pneumonia at slaughter and a 10% decrease in the prevalence rates of atrophic rhinitis at slaughter ranged from 0.15to0.15 to 0.15to0.37 per hog marketed for one producer. Future validation efforts should emphasize data quality and the effects of disease on production while seeking system application in a commercial production setting.

RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, 1985

The popular press has made us more aware of the microelectronic revolution and the projected impa... more The popular press has made us more aware of the microelectronic revolution and the projected impacts it will have on society. One of the products of the microelectronics revolution is the microcomputer. The newest generation of microcomputers has the computational capacity of the mid-size mainframe computer of only a decade ago at a small fraction of the cost. This breakthrough in computation power and availability has prompted some to become enthusiastic about the potential of microcomputers. Berge (1984) suggests that microcomputers can do:. .. project scheduling, resource allocating, fund accounting and decision analysis. Such sophisticated operations as cost-benefit analysis, financial projections, food policy modeling, cattle herd optimization and general farm management programs can now be done by managers with little previous experience in these 'speciality' areas.