SYSTEMS-ENGINEERING PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS FOR THE DESIGN OF A WHOLE-FARM INFORMATION-SYSTEM

The integration of agricultural research results into information mana gement and information transfer technologies can aid agricultural prac titioners and farm managers in understanding complex interactions amon g-farming systems components, and in improving whole-farm resource man agement. Systems approaches discussed in agricultural literature can b e classified as being science-driven or technology-driven. Although sp ecific objectives associated with these approaches may be fundamentall y different, they share many similar principles. Our main objectives a re to identify the common principles of several different systems desi gn and development approaches, and to discuss how we applied these pri nciples to develop the farm management information system entitled Far mbook. Support within the agricultural research community f or integra tion of these farming systems research/extension and systems engineeri ng principles will make it possible to develop high quality farm-based software for education and technology transfer and ultimately for mor e efficient agricultural maangement systems development.