ISFARM-An integrated system for farm management: Applicability

A simulation of an application of ISFARM methodology is presented to demonstrate and to test the approach, the components and the applicability of the methodology of ISFARM. This methodology suggests the planning and operation of a farm by a sequential procedure that includes four stages: planning, monitoring, comparing between plan and execution, and decision making (whether to proceed with the current plan or to carry out an updated plan for a new planning horizon). These stages involve expert systems and linear programming models that are included in ISFARM. The case study is set on a 3-crop 100-ha farm in southern France. Following a scenario typical for the region, a decision-making process, based on the ISFARM methodology, is activated. The procedures of ISFARM methodology, the decision-making tools and measures, and the resulting planning and operating of the farm production show that ISFARM can be used to improve the decision-making process at a farm level, operating under severe uncertainty.