Assessing the returns to an on-farm computer

The last decade has seen remarkable advances in microcomputer technology, and many farmers in Britain are now asking whether it is time for them to purchase an on-farm system. The costs and benefits of owning a microcomputer are difficult to estimate, especially the latter. A variety of methods have been adopted to analyse these costs and returns, most of which has been suspect or inadequate. A more reliable method for determining whether a farmer should purchase a microcomputer system, based on recognised investment evaluation procedures, is presented here.