A computer program development for farm machinery system economics selection

Abstract

A Pascal Computer Program (SOMA) was developed at the National Mayse and Sorghum Research Center, Embrapa, in Sete Lagoas, MG, Brazil, with the objective of making decisions on selection of farm machinery and equipments, based on its technical and economical requirements. This program is working according to Hunt's model (1977) and its feasibility was tested using data from seven farms of Ituiutaba, Minas Gerais. According to the results, the computer program worked very well, minimizing the operational costs and also, giving technical support for the farmer decisions. The SOMA program showed good results, on the conditions it was tested, even making use of parameters for different conditions from those of the Brazilian agriculture. These results shown in this program can be used as a good help to the farmers on the selection of the agricultural mecanization system.