Farm and Industry Short CourseFarm and Industry Short Course

Finding and Using Ag WebsitesFinding and Using Ag Websites

March 8, 2007March 8, 2007

Bonner KargerBonner KargerSoil Science ExtensionSoil Science Extension

Internet, WWW• A potentially viable source for informationA potentially viable source for information

• Inexpensive advertising and marketingInexpensive advertising and marketing

• Creative outletCreative outlet

• Low-staffed interactionLow-staffed interaction

• Wide range of potential usesWide range of potential uses

Internet searches

Internet searches

• World Wide Web search enginesWorld Wide Web search engines- Google - Google (largest database, ~ 10 (largest database, ~ 10 billionbillion pages) pages)

- Altavista, Yahoo!- Altavista, Yahoo!- Ask (meta)- Ask (meta)- Many others…most buy services - Many others…most buy services from abovefrom above

Internet searches

• Pseudo-enginesPseudo-engines- not nearly as widely scoped- not nearly as widely scoped- limited capabilities- limited capabilities

What’s the Difference?What’s the Difference?

- Pages are stored in databases- Pages are stored in databases- Not all search engines use the same - Not all search engines use the same databasedatabase

Keywords and operators

• Search engines expect keywordsSearch engines expect keywords- plain text, numbers, most symbols- plain text, numbers, most symbols

• They can also use operatorsThey can also use operators- quotes (“”)- quotes (“”)- AND- AND- OR- OR- NOT- NOT- mathematical operations (Google)- mathematical operations (Google)

Finding what you need

What are you looking for?• Company / Product InfoCompany / Product Info• OrganizationsOrganizations• PeoplePeople• Industry TopicsIndustry Topics• DataData• Articles and NewsArticles and News• Purchasing / Online shoppingPurchasing / Online shopping

This will help determine the query style you should useThis will help determine the query style you should use - AND, OR, NOT, PHRASE(“”)- AND, OR, NOT, PHRASE(“”)

“Weeding” the results

• Names you know, agencies and companies Names you know, agencies and companies you trust (NRCS, USDA, USGS, UW, etc.)you trust (NRCS, USDA, USGS, UW, etc.)

• Age of informationAge of information

• ““See Similar” functions can helpSee Similar” functions can help

Querying within a site

When you’ve found a good site, what next?When you’ve found a good site, what next?

• Obvious navigationObvious navigation• Look for a “search” boxLook for a “search” box• Look for a “browse topics” function (I/A)Look for a “browse topics” function (I/A)• Keywords still applyKeywords still apply• Look for a sitemap Look for a sitemap

- Example

Saving information

• Simple “save as”Simple “save as”

• Copy and paste into editor (i.e. Word)Copy and paste into editor (i.e. Word)

• Screen shots (graphic output)Screen shots (graphic output)

• BookmarkingBookmarking- downside: dead links down the road- downside: dead links down the road

Overall

• Be careful about the info/data you collect Be careful about the info/data you collect online; there’s a lot of misinformation out online; there’s a lot of misinformation out therethere

• Be patient with searches, use “advanced” Be patient with searches, use “advanced” features when availablefeatures when available

• Remember keywords and operators (AND, Remember keywords and operators (AND, OR, NOT, PHRASE)OR, NOT, PHRASE)

Websites

• Using information gateways, or Using information gateways, or Web Portals, is a great way to Web Portals, is a great way to find multiple sites at once, instead find multiple sites at once, instead of relying on a broad-base search of relying on a broad-base search engineengine

AgrivillePurdue Agronomy

Forage Information SystemsWI Ag Connection

Farms.com

Management sites• Technical Guides, Research, EducationTechnical Guides, Research, Education

NRCS WI DNR

International Plant Nutrition Institute

Back-to-basics WI Phosphorus Index

DATCP

Manufacturer / Retail

• For specifications, photos, prices, etc.For specifications, photos, prices, etc.

John Deere

Case IH

Carl F. Statz & Sons (Waunakee)

Mid-State Equipment

Ebay...Ebay??

Educational

University of Wisconsin Extension

UW Madison Soil Science Extension

Agronomy Journal

SNAP-Plus Nutrient Management Software

Wisconsin P Index

Ag Careers

Online maps

WI DNR WebView

TerraServer

Web Soil Survey

Questions?Questions?