Using shiny package to create web-based crop budget tool
Extension Education
Alan Leslie
Agriculture and Food Systems Educator
University of Maryland
Bel Alton
Abstract
This project has designed and published a web-based budget tool for calculating soybean crop budgets in a way that is user-friendly, flexible, and interactive. The current version of the app can be found using the URL: https://awleslie.shinyapps.io/budget_4/. The web app includes all of the functions of the previous excel-based budget tool, with additional flexibility in the choices that can be made in terms of pest management options and for different genetically modified seed packages. All of the options are available to choose and change on the same page, which makes comparing different production options very easy. The former Excel-based budget tool required multiple spreadsheets to compare production costs of growing soybeans with different herbicide tolerance packages. This version allows you to quickly choose between herbicide tolerance packages and changes to show you the available pesticide options for each variety of soybean seed. The new online tool also simplifies record-keeping with the built-in option of downloading all of the information entered into the budget in PDF format to save for later reference. This PDF printout includes all field information and will include additional recommendations related to pest management that change depending on the choices selected in the online application. To further promote the use of this project, all of the files containing codes used to build this online tool have been published in a public digital repository under a GNU General Public Use license. This will allow other users to discover and share the code and potentially modify it for use in other states or for other crops. As the code is updated through subsequent versions of the web app, these revised codes will also be uploaded to the repository and be made available to the public. Our hope is that this project may provide accessible and intuitive crop budget planning to help support Maryland soybean farmers, especially through unpredictable financial times.
Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC
This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.
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Authors: Alan Leslie, Benjamin Beale, Shannon Dill
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Leslie, A. Agriculture and Food Systems Educator, University of Maryland, Maryland, 20611
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Beale, B. Principal Agent, University of Maryland, Maryland, 20650
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Dill, S. Principal Agent, University of Maryland, Maryland, 21601