Improvements and updates to the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s DD50 rice management program provide more accurate reports and easier access, especially on mobile devices.
The Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board provided funding for the upgrade, said Jarrod Hardke, Extension rice agronomist. Aristotle, Inc., a Little Rock-based web design company, was contracted to redesign the DD50 website.
Amy Cole, digital media program director for the Cooperative Extension Service’s office of information technology, said the program has been completely overhauled for 2018. All new computer coding has replaced the outdated program, making it faster and more user friendly.
Cole said the program features a new interface, is more usable on multiple web browsers, and is optimized for use on smart phones and tablets. “Functionality is improved and the interface makes more sense,” she said.
Cole said 249 Arkansas rice producers are enrolled in the program now, representing 2,711 fields totaling more than 215,000 acres.
DD50 provides information and help with timing on more than 25 management decisions based on constantly updated weather conditions, Hardke said. Among them, the program helps farmers time applications for nitrogen fertilizer and insect and disease pest control, and herbicide cutoff dates.