A NORTH Yorkshire farmer has successfully combined country life with computers by globally marketing a budget-priced field management technology package.

Charles Collinson, who farms 850 arable acres at Topcliffe, near Thirsk, programmed Field Track, a computer package used by more than 500 farmers around the world.

Many are in the United Kingdom, but some are in further-flung locations, including Latvia, New Zealand and Australia.

The package is used by farmers for all sorts of field management, such as recording which fields have been treated with what type of fertiliser.

Although similar programs are available, Charles said what was unique about his was its low price.

He said: "It is dirt cheap. Something similar would cost you a few hundred quid elsewhere, but this is £40 and you can try it out over the internet."

Charles said he was working on various programs in his spare time when neighbours and farming colleagues asked him to write Field Track.

He said: "It is selling well. We have had a lean time in agriculture, so I haven't been marketing it, but it is still popular."

For more details about the program go to www.fieldtrack.com

Updated: 12:04 Wednesday, September 18, 2002