If you have a computer or plan to get one, what information can you obtain with your computer that will be useful for your farm operation? This publication will help you answer such questions. It will help you evaluate and select a new system, or get more out of the one you already have. The key components of computer systems you may want to know about are: Hardware--the physical equipment itself. Software--the computer programs on tape or disk, and Online sources of information--such as current market and weather information and technical reports. This publication offers guidelines to help farmers select hardware, software, and online information. (See the glossary at the end of this publication for definitions of specialized computer terms.) =What a Computer Can Do for You= You can use a microcomputer to help you-- Determine the most economical feed ration for dairy cows and other farm animals. Schedule irrigation, Get quick access to records, Keep machinery inventories and depreciation schedules, Help with tax records and making out income tax returns, Keep livestock breeding and production records, Keep a record of loans and cash flow to meet interest and principal payments, Determine levels of earnings by working through a profit and loss statement and by calculating a percentage return to capital and a percentage return to equity, Decide the optimum production choice for a particular farm in a given year, and the optimum combination of inputs to grow the crops or livestock chosen, Store large amounts of data, and Get current market and weather information if the microprocessor is connected via the telephone to data bases (see section on online services). Software programs are also available in such areas as financial management, crop and field records, mailing lists for customers of certified seed and breeding stock, machinery purchase versus custom hiring, investment feasibility of building and livestock facilities, commodity price charts and tables, income taxation, marketing, soil conservation, and integrated pest management. The computer and its associated software packages can help you do four kinds of work: (1) store and manipulate records, (2) provide analyses for management decisions, (3) control machines or monitor production, and (4) communicate faster with other people through their computers and data bases. =Recordkeeping= Many experts recommend that you start on a small scale, computerize one thing at a time, and learn as you go along--rather than trying to put information on your entire farm operation into the computer all at once. A good place to start is with farm records. You can use microcomputers to keep track of financial records--such as cash flow, bank balances, accounts payable, accounts receivable, net worth statements, costs, and returns--as well as other records--such as livestock breeding and production reports, crop and field records, and mailing lists.