[Coco] Blue Coco

[Gene Heskett]

On Saturday 24 January 2004 14:19, Neil Morrison wrote:
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Frank Swygert" <farna at att.net>
>
>> I have a few old RS magazines and catalogs, but have them packed
>
>away
>
>> right now. "AgVision" was a network for agricultural information
>
>that
>
>> farmers could subscribe to. Don't know how long it lasted, but
>> inexpensive terminals was a priority. Apparently the blue Vidtex
>> terminal was made just for the AgVision network. I don't think the
>
>idea
>
>> really worked, as most farmers are by nature low tech. That's
>
>changing,
>
>> but only the big farms rely much on technology.
>
>Really? I got the impression that most farmers were now on the net,
>and many use tools like global positioning and satellite images to
>help them.
>
>NM

Oh, most are on the net ok, but the gps system to drive the tractor & 
sat imaging controlling the irrigation seems to be haveing a very 
slow penetration rate.  I have a nephew in western ny, dairy and 
about 1600 acres plowed, another 1000 or more in pasture & timberland 
that yields several hundred gallons of maple syrup a year and all the 
rough construction lumber they need around the farm.  His most recent 
purchase was a $25k baler because the market didn't like his ton-plus 
round bales anymore and seemed to be getting more for the roughly 
half ton square bales the new one makes.  His combine, a $150k toy, 
is still driven by human hands, many many long hours a day in season.  
In season, if the wheels aren't turning, you're in it working on 
something cause its broke & downtime is money lost.

But I've been pushing the gps stuffs at him, and methane energy at him 
too, hard enough for him to at least look at the breakeven point on 
the methane powered generator, which in his case appears to be at 
about 3x the around 50 cows he is now milking.  So he is reading the 
Country Gentleman articles on that at least.

-- 
Cheers, Gene
"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap,
ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order."
-Ed Howdershelt (Author)
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Copyright 2004 by Maurice Eugene Heskett, all rights reserved.