Math: The language of numbers, shapes, and quantities.

Areas where math skills are vital in agriculture

1. Soil Analysis
2. Calculation of various fertilizer contents
3. For foreign markets, conversions to/from metric
4. Areas of various shapes
5. Market Protection Strategies
6. Evaluation of Retailer Performance
7. Application Rates
8. Finance Decisions
9. Piloting of Airplane for Efficient Travel

1. Soil Analysis

M.E.Q. x C.E.C. x %B.S.=lbs needed to correct mineral deficiency

M.E.Q. is based on Atomic Mass from Periodic Table

C.E.C. is the soil’s nutrient-holding capacity

%B.S. is the percentage of exchange sites occupied by a nutrient

2. Fertilizer Contents

Analysis of fertilizer blends listed as N-P-K

First number (which is Nitrogen) is the % of N in the blend

Second number (which is Phosphorus) is the % of P in the blend

Third Number (which is Potassium) is the % of K in the blend (the chemical symbol for K is derived from the German word for Potassium which is Kalium)

3. Conversions to and from Metrics

Liters x 3.785=Gallons

Hectares x 2.47=Acres

Kilograms x 2.2=Lbs

4. Areas of Various Shapes

Fields can be found in various shapes - rectangles, squares, circles and triangles.

(Length (in ft) x Height (in ft))/43560 (sq. ft. in 1 acre)=acres

pi x r^2/43560=acres in a circle

½*Base (of triangle) x height (of triangle)/43560=acres

5. Market Protection Strategies

Reducing hedging risk

To cover risk using commodities trading:

Tons of raw material purchased/1000=contracts to be sold to cover position

Avg. gallons of diesel used per load x loads to be delivered/1000=contracts needed to be purchased to cover cost

6. Evaluation of Retailer Performance

Customer Education ((Advertising + Soil Sampling + Training + Customer Education)/gross revenues) x 100=% of sales expense

Revenues generated

Investment as a percentage of sales

7. Application Rates

(GPA x speed x width)/5940=gallons/min. of flow rate needed for water [GPA = gallons per acre]

Fertilizers vary in weight/gallon, so divide weight/gallon of fertilizer by 8.35 (weight of a gallon of water) to get specific gravity of fertilizer.

Take specific gravity x GPM for water to get flow rate needed for fertilizer

Determine preferred pressure then consult chart to determine nozzle size needed

8. Finance Decisions

Tax Depreciation or Investment Tax Credit

Lease or Buy

Future Value of Money

9. Piloting of Airplane for Efficient Travel

F Example Formulas:

A VFR conditions…….((Total gallons of Fuel-(.5 x fuel burn/hour))/fuel burn/hour=available duration

P IFR conditions……..(((Total gallons of Fuel-(time H to fly to alternate x fuel burn/hr)-(.75 x fuel D burn/hr)/fuel burn/hr= available duration

R Both VFR & IFR…available duration/calculated ground speed=distance to be flown before refuel