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Table of contents
Tools directory
From weather maps to machinery cost calculators, download or use these tools online to help manage your farming business.
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Crops
General
- Alberta Climate Information Service
The AgroClimatic Information Service (ACIS) provides access to meteorological data and maps derived from more than 330 stations. - Irrigation Water Allocation Calculator
This calculator estimates how long it will take to use up an allocation of water. - Rural Water Quality Information Tool
This online tool assesses the quality and suitability of raw water sources for livestock, irrigation or mix water for chemical spraying.
Seeding
- Alberta Soil Information Viewer
Use this map-based decision-support tool to access selected soil data in Alberta’s agricultural region. - Barley, General Purpose Seeding Rate Calculator
This calculator determines how much seed is needed to plant a cereal crop with the desired plant density and includes seed drill calibration information. - Peas, Pulses and Other Large Seeds Calculator
This calculator determines how much seed is needed to plant a crop with the desired plant density and includes seed drill calibration information.
Cost of production
- Crop Budget Calculator
Crop producers can use this software to predict revenues and margins for Alberta enterprises. - Crop Returns Calculator
This calculator helps managers to evaluate crop enterprise profitability by calculating production costs, breakeven selling prices, gross margins and returns to equity. - CropChoices software
Crop producers can use this software to predict revenues and margins for their enterprise, as well as the chance of achieving those levels. - Cropping Alternatives
Regional cost and returns forecast reports based on current Alberta cost of crop and forage production information. - Match Forage Supplies to Livestock needs calculator
Beef producers can use this software to estimate forage shortfalls or surpluses for different winter cattle feeding scenarios.
Grain measurement
- Dollars/Bushel: Dollars/Tonne Converter
Convert between dollars per bushel and dollars per tonne for various grains. - Test Weight Converter
Convert back and forth between kilograms per hectolitre (kg/hL) and pounds per bushel (lb/bushel).
Nutrient management
- Alberta Farm Fertilizer Information and Recommendation Manager (AFFIRM) 3.0 Software
This software helps crop producers make fertilizer nutrient decisions based on soil test results, crops to be grown, soil moisture conditions, agro-climatic regions and economic factors of crop prices and fertilizer nutrient costs. - Alberta Phosphorous Management Tool
This risk assessment tool helps producers make livestock and nutrient management decisions to minimize phosphorus losses. - Ammonia Emissions Estimator
This calculator allows producers to perform a quick ammonia losses calculation. Accurate ammonia loss estimates from manure are needed to improve nutrient management recommendations and test the value of ammonia abatement techniques. - Ammonia Losses from Liquid Manure Applications Calculator
This calculator estimates ammonia emissions due to liquid manure application to farm land. It also estimates the economic value of the ammonia volatilization loss based on fertilizer nitrogen cost. - Manure Composting Calculator
This calculator determines the amount of carbon source material and water needed to create a good compost mix. The calculator is primarily intended for manure composting, however, it can be used for other materials as well. - Manure Management Planner
This software program helps land managers determine where, when and how much manure should be used. - Manure Transportation Calculator
Use this software to evaluate the costs and benefits of manure application based on nutrient need and cost of transportation. - Nutrient Loading Calculator
This software program helps land managers plan detailed feed and cow management strategies.
- Alberta Climate Information Service
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Livestock
General
- Alberta Average Farm Input Prices
Monthly survey of prices of farm inputs including survey results in image and table formats over a 5-year period. - Ammonia Emissions Estimator
This calculator provides an approximation of ammonia emission based upon currently available information. - Ammonia Losses from Liquid Manure Applications Calculator
This calculator estimates ammonia emissions due to liquid manure application, and estimates the economic value of ammonia loss based on fertilizer nitrogen cost. - Average Daily and Annual Water Requirements
Average daily and annual water requirement numbers that can be used for estimating the amount of water used on a farm. - Change in AOPA Livestock Type Calculator (NEW)
Confined feeding operations can use this online tool when considering a change in livestock type within a category. - Rural Water Quality Information Tool
Assess the quality and suitability of raw water sources for livestock, irrigation or mix water for chemical spraying. - Valuing Feed on Moisture Content
This calculator will enable you to determine the adjusted weight or adjusted nutrient content when moisture content of a sample changes.
Beef
- Barley Silage Calculator
Calculate the value of a barley crop as standing greenfeed to provide a value for the silage. - Beef Breed Investment Calculator
This calculator computes the Net Present Value (NPV) value for a breeding beef female. - BeefAIChoice Computer Software
This program helps producers compare artificial insemination (AI) options against using natural service bulls for cow-calf operations. - Beef Feed Value Calculator
This calculator can help you price livestock feeds based on both energy and protein content, based on the contributions they make to the ration. - Creep Feeding Calculator
This calculator can help producers determine whether creep feeding will be economically beneficial to the operation. - Feed Systems Cost Evaluator
This calculator compares the costs, on a dry matter basis, of pit silage, bagged silage, bale silage and dry hay. - Feedlot Investment Risk Simulation Tool
The Feedlot Investment Risk Simulation Tool (FIR$T) helps feedlot operators and potential investors analyze the risks and returns associated with cattle feeding. - Match Forage Supplies to Livestock needs calculator
Beef producers can use this software to estimate forage shortfalls or surpluses for different winter cattle feeding scenarios. - Swath Grazing Calculator
The Swath Grazing Calculator compares costs between conventional wintering feeding systems and swath grazing.
Pigs
- Barley Digestible Energy and Amino Acids for Swine Feed Calculator
This calculator enables you to determine the Barley Digestible Energy and Amino Acids for Swine Feed. - Hog Shipping Evaluator
Farm managers can use this tool to evaluate their shipping effectiveness based on the weight distribution and average index of the hogs shipped. - Wheat Digestible Energy and Amino Acids for Swine Feed Calculator
This calculator enables you to determine the Wheat Digestible Energy and Amino Acids for Swine Feed.
- Alberta Average Farm Input Prices
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Land/Volume
Land
- Alberta Climate Information Service
The AgroClimatic Information Service (ACIS) provides access to Meteorological data and maps derived from more than 330 stations. - Alberta Soil Information Viewer
Use this map-based decision-support tool to access selected soil data in Alberta’s agricultural region.
Volume
- Catch Basin Dimension Calculator
This calculator may be used to design a catch basin based on catchment area and potential surface water runoff. - Dugout Volume or Manure Storage Calculator
Calculate the volume of a dugout and the volume of water it contains, or design an earthen manure storage based on livestock liquid manure production. - Irrigation Water Allocation Calculator
- This calculator estimates how long it will take to use up an allocation of water.
- Rectangular Bin Volume Calculator
- This calculator will estimate the contents of a rectangular grain bin filled to various heights.
- Vertical Tank Volume Calculator
- Calculate the volume of water a vertical tank can hold. Includes partially-filled tanks.
- Alberta Climate Information Service
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Machinery
- Vehicle Cost Calculator
This calculator will estimate and compare the ownership and operating costs for a vehicle. Costs can be calculated for both business and non-business vehicles.
- Vehicle Cost Calculator
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Farm management
- Alberta Average Farm Input Prices
Monthly survey of prices of farm inputs including survey results in image and table formats over a 5-year period. - ABA Simple Farm Ratio Analyzer
This tool helps farm managers get a quick check of their farm’s financial health. - Cash Flow Analyzer
This budgeting tool helps project future flows of cash into, and out of, a business operation. - CowProfit$
This tool is a starting point for producers to develop and use their own basic cost and returns profiles with the main emphasis on cow herd. - Crop Budget Calculator
Crop producers can use this software to predict revenues and margins for Alberta enterprises. - Crop Returns enterprise analysis tool
This Excel template helps producers evaluate crop enterprise profitability by calculating production costs. - CropChoice$ decision-making tool
Crop producers can use this software to predict revenues and margins for Albera enterprises. - Farming the Web
An online marketplace for the forage and agriculture community operated by the Alberta Forage Industry Network. - FIR$T Computer Software
The Feedlot Investment Risk Simulation Tool (FIR$T) helps feedlot operators and potential investors analyze the risks and returns associated with cattle feeding. - Rancher’s Return Lite
This program helps managers to evaluate cow-calf and backgrounding enterprise profitability by calculating production costs, breakeven selling prices, gross margins, and returns to equity. - Rancher's Risk and Return
This Excel spreadsheet template calculates costs and expected financial returns for individual cattle enterprises including cow-calf, finishing, backgrounding or backgrounding with grazing.
- Alberta Average Farm Input Prices
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Forestry
- Growth and Yield Projection System (GYPSY)
This system is used to forecast the growth and yield of stands of trees on a per hectare basis. - Micro Logscale System
This program helps mills calculate log volumes using Smalian in an approved format, which is then submitted to the Timber Production and Revenue System (TPRS). - Permanent Sample Plots
This database search tool provides land standing listings, including contact information, maps and descriptions, for clients applying to utilize Crown land.
- Growth and Yield Projection System (GYPSY)
Contact 310-FARM
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Toll free: 310-FARM (3276) - no area code needed
Email: [email protected]
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