Dateline: February 28, 2002

Computer workshop for farmers, ranchers to be held at CC

      AMARILLO -- The popular ‘Have Computer Will Travel’ education workshops offered annually by Texas Cooperative Extension will start soon.

Courses are designed to fit the needs of area agricultural producers and financial managers of farms and ranches.

“This year, we’ve added a new course and updated popular software,” said Steve Amosson, Extension management economist of Amarillo.

“Early registration is strongly encouraged because there is high demand,” Amosson said.  The mobile computer lab features 13 laptops and travels to workshops around the state.

“Initially, we wanted to promote early adoption of ‘computer-age’ technology by producers and agribusiness operators,” Amosson explained, 

“The program has been almost too successful. Class size is limited to the number of laptops available.”

The workshops for QuickBooks will be held April 8-9 in Clarendon at Clarendon College.  Also, in Pampa on April 2-3; March 26-27 at the Amarillo A&M Center; and Spearman on April 11-12.  A final training is slated June 13-14 in Dumas.

All workshops start by 9 a.m. and end by 3:30 p.m.  Registration fees may vary depending on the course and days in training. Couples may share a laptop for a single registration fee.

New this year is Beginning QuickBooks 2001, which will be offered in 2-day sessions.  The course will cover basic applications, case studies, and personal finance.   Instructors will include Extension specialists DeDe Jones and Dustin Gaskins, with assistance by Fran Bretz and Jackie Miller, program associates.

Also in June, Amosson will  teaching Beginning Quicken 2001 for Windows, June 5-6.  The cost will be $75.

Another training on June 7 carries a $50 registration and will feature BUDPRO, the budget projecting software for crop and livestock enterprises.  This menu-driven package helps producers make budget projections for the various commodities. 

Besides generating enterprise budgets, the software calculates break-even prices and provides sensitivity analysis for varying prices and quantities produced. 

Registration requires payment before enrollment will be complete.  Make checks payable to Texas Cooperative Extension.  Mail to DeDe Jones at the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center, 6500 Amarillo Blvd. West, Amarillo, Texas 79106. 

Contact Jones at (806) 359-5401 or any county Extension office in the area for forms to register and more information.