Editor’s note: Senior Online Editor Matt Hopkins has been compiling his list of the best mobile apps in agriculture since 2010. In the slideshow below you’ll find more than 30 apps worthy of downloading in 2024. Inclusion on the list is based on research and evaluation of new or recently updated farming apps available for Androids, iPhones, and iPads. The list also includes several older apps that may have been off your radar but still deserve your attention. In addition, Hopkins shares insight from industry experts on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is impacting the development and use of agricultural apps.
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yieldsApp
yieldsApp's AI technology provides farmers with field-specific, recommendations for pest, disease, and nutrient management. The platform enables organizations and agribusinesses to obtain transparency, traceability, and allows them to support their farmers. yieldsApp is the answer for farmers and companies who want to grow sustainably, comply with regulations and certification standards and improve their environmental impact. Learn more
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Slakes
The Slakes app from the Soil Health Institute allows users to easily and accurately measure wet aggregate stability – a key indicator of soil health. The app uses a smartphone camera to take a picture of three dry soil aggregates before and after exposing them to water for 10 minutes. The app then automatically calculates an aggregate stability value. Weaker aggregates will slake (or break apart) more easily, while stronger aggregates will slake less, indicating better soil aggregation and healthier soil. Key features include open access to a reliable method for soil health assessment; a simple process for photographing three air-dried soil aggregates before and after a 10-minute water submersion; automatic soil area estimation using an advanced pixel thresholding algorithm; calculation of a dimensionless aggregate stability index, indicating soil health; and index values ranging from ~0.1 to 1, with higher values representing greater aggregate stability. Android, iPhone, iPad
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FarmCommand
FarmCommand from Farmers Edge is a digital farm data management app packed with tools designed for in-field use. This easy-to-use-app helps you quickly, analyze, visualize and share information from anywhere. Features include an in-cab tool; field-centric weather data and forecasts; imagery-derived map layers; automatic crop health change detection; simplified operational planning; scouting tool; harvest tool; and more. In addition, the company also recently announced a partnership with LEAF, which enables Farmers Edge to offer growers a standardized and scalable solution for seamless integration of machine data, expanding the information on which to base decisions. Android, iPhone, iPad
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Libra Cart
Libra Cart from Agrimatics is a full-featured tablet and smartphone-based grain cart weighing and data management system. The Libra Cart app is designed to work with our Libra Cart hardware, which connects to the load cells of your grain cart and wirelessly communicates with the app running on your mobile device inside the tractor. Automatically capture harvest data and share with the touch of a button. In addition, Agrimatics recently formed an integration partnership with Case IH and New Holland, which enables users of the Case IH platform, AFS Connect, and users of the New Holland platform, MyPLM Connect, to interact with the Agrimatics Libra Cart system, as well as the Agrimatics Cloud Service. Android, iPhone, iPad
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AGvisorPRO
AGvisorPRO fast-tracks your knowledge development, giving you a competitive edge in agriculture through a wide network of trusted professionals and companies. We connect you remotely and in real-time with individuals both for hire and for free. The app improves the connection between farmers, independent consultants, retailers, manufacturers, equipment dealerships, and the government. Android, iPhone, iPad
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Traction Mobile
Traction Mobile is the ultimate tool for seamless field task management. Boost your productivity, save time, and gain efficiency by effortlessly handling your connected machine tasks from your phone. This app empowers you with better record-keeping, quick access to field profitability, and real-time inventory tracking for inputs and harvested crops. Users can scroll through available machine tasks (tillage, seeding, application and harvest) within the Import Queue that are ready for approval. You can also assign equipment and personnel to each task, and approve or archive records. iPhone, iPad
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Gripp
Gripp enables the digitizing and scaling of agricultural operations by providing a chat-styled tracking platform for seamless connectivity among large teams and the hundreds of assets they work with on an ongoing basis. Warehouse, maintenance, and orchard managers love using Gripp as a digital clipboard to keep tabs on the things they care about. With pricing that can dip below $1 / month / asset, Gripp removes the barriers around tracking operational activities, accessing valuable operational knowledge and routines, all while revealing critical insights about your operation. The result? Reduced downtime, streamlined operations, and lower costs all around. Learn more
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ADM FarmView
ADM FarmView provides a new digital experience for producers powered by Bushel. The new digital platform gives farmers easy access to near real-time information to increase efficiency in their operations, including scale tickets, contracts, settlements, and cash bids. Commodity balances that will allow better visibility of open storage, delayed price contracts, delivered unpaid balances and more will be coming soon. This new app and website portal replaces GrainBridge. Bushel has worked with ADM over the past year to transition the key GrainBridge technology features into a new app and desktop experience, bringing along with it Bushel’s intuitive interface. Android, iPhone, iPad
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Agerpoint Capture
With the Agerpoint Capture app, users can easily create digital twins of plants, crops, trees, and the natural world. These 3D models help you measure and analyze the ground truth. Growers, researchers, conservationists and other agriculture and climate professionals capture data with their mobile device by walking around a single plant or planted area of interest. Agerpoint Capture uses camera, LiDAR, and GPS data to record images, depth and location. Live augmented reality feedback guides the user towards a successful capture. Inspect and interact with your 3D models onboard your mobile device. Upload models to the Agerpoint Cloud platform for more detailed modeling and measurements, including canopy size, trunk diameter, fruit count, disease presence, and species identification. iPhone, iPad
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Agrology
Agrology, a leading Predictive Agriculture company, recently launched a new Fire Map that enables growers to monitor active fires within a 20-mile radius of any location in the world. As part of the company’s commitment to empowering growers with actionable, real-time data, Agrology is providing everyone free access to the Agrology Fire Map. Agrology’s Fire Map delivers data in 3D, enabling users to zoom in and out to see the exact location of fires and users can select up to three locations at once. While the Agrology Fire Map provides valuable information needed to take action, it is meant for growers who want to plan actions for their teams, and not as a life-saving tool. While the Fire Map is free for anyone to use, growers can expand their preparedness for fire season by subscribing to and installing the Agrology Sentinel Climate Monitoring System. iPhone, iPad
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DropControl
Know the exact condition of your farm using DropControl, a web/mobile solution that allows you to follow the weather and soil moisture conditions, and control your irrigation/fertigation system efficiently. With the new RF-C1 Irrigation Controller and DropControl app, you can manage your farm through the cloud or using Bluetooth connection directly in the field. Map Display provides a bird’s eye view of your operation, showing real-time status. Field nodes simultaneously monitor and control system performance as well as control components like valves and pumps. Real-time and historical data analysis of soil moisture and water usage helps you make profitable decisions for irrigation while improving yields. Android, iPhone, iPad
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GSI Connect
GSI Connect optimizes the quality and profitability of dried grain and eventually connects customers with their entire grain system. The app’s initial capability provides farmers peace of mind with near real-time information about their dryer’s performance. See your dryer’s status, moisture, and temperature, and adjust the set points. Stop your dryer, change unload speeds and get performance data right from the app. GSI Connect even alerts you to errors or stoppages to reduce downtime and maximize profit. To minimize risk, improve drying consistency and provide savings on operational costs, GSI Connect empowers an operator to make quicker decisions to protect their hard-earned crop. During the short harvest season, GSI Connect gives a farmer critical information to reduce downtime and maximize drying capacity and productivity. Android, iPhone
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SWAT Records
Soil, Water, and Topography (SWAT) Records from Croptimistic Technology Inc. is a multi-user, crop record-keeping solution for farmers and crop consultants. Create jobs for spraying, seeding, fieldwork, and harvesting. Track when these jobs are completed. Enter data in the field and sync to the croprecords.com servers when internet service is available. Android, iPhone, iPad
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Bushel Farm
Bushel Farm (formerly FarmLogs) gives farmers both a ground-level and big-picture view of their farm’s operational and financial performance. Unlike multiple spreadsheets or messy notebooks, Bushel Farm organizes and centralizes an array of farm records -- field maps, rainfall and satellite imagery, scouting notes, equipment, activities and inputs, grain sales and inventories, land agreements, work orders, and more. Powerful automation within the tool transforms farm records into valuable insights that farmers can use to plan and make decisions on their own or share with their grain buyers, agronomists, bankers, insurance providers, and other trusted farm partners. Insights include: cost of production; marketing position; profitability of grain sales; and profit and loss at the farm, crop, and field level. Integrations with John Deere Operations Center and Climate FieldView reduce the burden of manual entry for farmers, allowing seamless imports of field activities and input data. Photo: Bushel.Android, iPhone, iPad
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E4 Vision
Crop consulting firm E4 Crop Intelligence recently released E4 Vision 2.0, which features new tools and information to help growers make quick decisions on the go. One of the most notable features of 2.0 is the soil recommendations tool. This addition allows E4 customers to view the insights of their fields like never before. These soil recommendations will come from a customer’s trusted E4 advisor or agronomist. Upon reviewing the soil data collected, insights and findings will be pushed out to customers via the E4 Vision app. Customers will be able to have a quick reference to the data maps, reports, and new recommendations all in one place. In November 2022, the company added a nutrient recommendations feature to the app. Just as with the upcoming soil recommendation tool, the nutrient recommendations come directly from E4 experts. Android, iPhone, iPad
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Orbit
Orbit is an AI-driven field scouting mobile application, developed by Doktar, with the aim to transform crop monitoring and agricultural decisionmaking processes. This user-centric app harnesses satellite-based remote sensing technology to facilitate real-time monitoring of crop health. Orbit delivers exceptionally high-resolution satellite imagery on a near-daily basis, making it significantly easier to identify any anomalies in the field promptly. Fortified with artificial intelligence, Orbit is capable of pinpointing problem areas and automatically notifying the users.Serving as a comprehensive farming companion, Orbit extends insightful guidance while substantially reducing expenditures associated with irrigation, pesticide application, and fertilization. By synergizing hyperlocal weather data with water stress maps, Orbit crafts precise irrigation schedules. The application provides farmers with timely notifications regarding the optimal spraying times for the ensuing 48 hours. Leveraging the Variable Rate Fertilizer Application feature, Orbit optimizes fertilizer distribution across varying segments of land, promoting cost-efficiency. Additionally, the field comparison tool in Orbit evaluates a field's yield potential against a comparable one by utilizing NDVI data and phenological stages, providing insights for enhanced agricultural productivity. Android, iPhone, iPad
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AGMRI
AGMRI is a Crop Intelligence app from Intelinair that alerts you to what's happening on your fields. Ideal for farmers, agronomists, and crop specialists, AGMRI is an AI platform that combines ultra hi-res imagery with Machine Learning and Computer Vision to deliver a complete and uninterrupted “row-level” detail view of every acre and every field all season long. Clear color-coded and sortable alerts make you aware of yield killing pressures like weeds, low emergence, nutrient deficiencies, equipment skips, and many others. See top problem fields with one touch, get alerted early to developing pressure situations, zoom down to inches on every field to annotate and virtually scout. iPhone, iPad
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Insights by Prospera
Using various types of imagery and state-of-the-art intelligence algorithms, Insights virtually scouts your field and alerts you to crop health concerns (Plant Insights) and irrigation issues (Irrigation Insights) before they become problems. Insights by Prospera, allows you to get real-time notifications of issues in your fields, so you can take immediate action. Reduce input costs by focusing on the relevant areas of your fields. Use the information to adjust your pivots and maintain crop uniformity. Get access to field imagery, for continuous monitoring and analysis, and easily share insights with your collaborators. The app, which was designed to be intuitive and easy-to-use is available on the app store. Android, iPhone
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CropX
CropX is an easy-to-use integrated hardware and software system that connects farm data, real-time conditions. and agronomic recommendations, all while keeping farm data in one place for easy tracking and sharing. Install and communicate with CropX soil sensors, CropX telemetry gateways, and many other field monitoring devices, allowing you to track soil, water, and crop conditions with high precision in near real-time. Access agronomic recommendations, tools and data about irrigation, nutrient leaching, soil salinity and temperature, fungal disease risks, spray applications, crop progress and spatial variability, rainfall and ET data, weather outlooks, farm machinery data, effluent and lagoon manure management, variable rate, and more. The latest version is also more scalable and allows CropX to quickly add new features. (Photo: PRNewsfoto/CropX) Android, iPhone, iPad
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GROWERS and GROWERS Retail
GROWERS recently announced enhanced farmer and retailer features within two new mobile apps: GROWERS and GROWERS Retail. The company’s flagship product, GROWERS, is a FREE app for farmers enabling them to work directly with their retailers to request farm input products digitally, streamlining, and organizing the entire process. In addition, GROWERS Retail allows retail counterparts to respond to farmers’ requests creating new ways for retailers to drive customer loyalty and sales growth as more farmers embrace technology. Learn more >>
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Acres
Looking to buy or sell farmland this year? Acres makes researching farmland easier than ever, so you can compare your property to farms nearby or learn more about new opportunities in minutes. You can view and save listings on the go with access to key insights, including crop history, historic satellite imagery, flood, soil breakdowns, and more. Plus, your account syncs with the Acres desktop experience.Android, iPhone
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Climate FieldView
Climate FieldView is an integrated digital agriculture tool that provides farmers with a comprehensive, connected suite of digital tools, providing farmers a deeper understanding of their fields so they can make more informed operating decisions to optimize yields, maximize efficiency, and reduce risk. Climate FieldView allows users to seamlessly collect and store critical field data; monitor and measure the impact of their agronomic decisions on crop performance; and manage their field variability by building customized fertility and seeding plans for each of their fields. Android, iPhone, iPad
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Automated FruitScout
Automated FruitScout is an industry leader in Agriculture Process Automation (APA) such as Precision Crop Load Management (PCLM). FruitScout’s easy-to-use mobile app leverages its computer vision technology, enabling growers to scientifically determine their optimal crop load, and saving them from wasting labor and inputs (water, fertilizer) growing suboptimal crops. Automated FruitScout was named a Top 10 Precision Farming Solution Provider of 2022. Learn more.
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Panorama by Precision Planting
Panorama by Precision Planting allows farmers an unobstructed view of the data collected in their cab, whether on the app or through moving data to the platform of their choice. Panorama features an API that allows other industry data platforms to create a connection to the Precision Planting system, allowing the data to flow seamlessly from the 20|20 monitor to any platform. Other features include map viewing, reporting, and the ability for a farmer to allow their Precision Planting dealer to provide remote technology support. iPhone
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FieldAlytics Engage
The FieldAlytics Engage app from Ever.Ag Agribusiness is designed to strengthen service providers’ relationships with growers by housing essential information in a single source. The app enables growers to see upcoming activities on their fields, review and approve work orders, view field spatial data, assess the latest weather reports, and view current grain market information from a single dashboard. The innovative platform saves time for service providers and growers by improving the real-time sharing of critical information while reducing unnecessary touchpoints to manage risk. The new tool reflects the combination of industry knowledge and technology expertise that have made FieldAlytics a leader in the market.Learn more.
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Aeroview InField
With the Aeroview InField app from Aerobotics, farmers gain insights from high-res drone data, leading them directly to stressed trees on the farm. Easily identify, manage, and take action against pest and disease threats with Aeroview InField. Users can track pest, disease, irrigation, and weed problems; take notes, photos, and qualifying and quantifying data; drop a pin at every stressed tree, with GPS-referenced data on a map of your farm; use the app offline in-field by downloading your data at home; assign scout tasks to different users; and download PDF reports after each scout on Aeroview. Android, iPhone
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Agtrinsic
Agtrinsic is a scouting and harvesting analytics app that uses AI for routing of scouts and monitoring of disease pressure. Features include multiple data layers, including in-field instrumentation to feed disease AI; highly accurate emergence modeling; structured scouting inputs that are meaningful and exact; AI-based drone pilot routing; and more. Learn more.
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Agmatix
Through its Agronomic Trial Management SaaS solution, Agmatix allows researchers, agronomists, and farmers to simplify trial data collection straight from the field. The On-Farm Experimentation (OFE) feature enables users to create and manage side-by-side plot trials directly in the app. Get things done faster by quickly creating protocols and checklists, assigning tasks, collecting data, and seeing results immediately via the app. With the additional benefit of viewing trials completed or ongoing near you, Agmatix can connect users with local trial coordinators to expand the available research knowledge of their “virtual toolbox”. Android, iPhone
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John Deere Operations Center Mobile
John Deere's Operations Center Mobile (formerly MyOperations) takes remote management of your field operations and equipment to the next level. The app connects with John Deere Operations Center, allowing you to evaluate expected vs. actual performance of job execution and machine utilization. Powered by an easy, reliable connection between you and your machines through JDLink Connect, the app enables you to monitor completed field activities that occurred today and yesterday to determine the productivity and quality of each field for a given operation like Seeding, Application, Harvest, and Tillage. The app is truly your solution to view machine and agronomic data anytime and anywhere. Access to these insights into your farm helps you proactively manage your day to improve logistics and productivity, as well as increasing confidence that your jobs are being executed as planned. Android, iPad, iPhone
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xarvio FIELD MANAGER
xarvio FIELD MANAGER from BASF, a leading crop production optimization solution based on 20 years of experience in crop production makes it easy for you to stay in control, protect your crops and get the most out of your fields. Have the status of your fields always at hand, receive field specific optimal crop protection timing, and get field-zone specific variable application maps for fungicides and your fertilizer. xarvio FIELD MANAGER uses the latest satellite image recognition and cutting edge agronomic modelling to give you the most reliable advice. Features include field specific risk status for disease and insect risks; important crop growth stage notifications; optimal spray timing notifications; weekly consistent biomass maps; field specific weather information; hourly spray weather forecast; optimal timing and variable application maps for fertilizer; wireless transfer from application maps to your machine; automatic field boundary detection; and visualization of yield maps, seeding maps, fertilizer maps, and as applied maps.Android, iPhone, iPad
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AgriSync
AgriSync enables farmers and advisors to connect and resolve support issues on the farm. Farmers can connect with multiple advisors from different companies to submit and receive support in real-time via video. Advisors can manage multiple farmer service tickets through a dashboard and remote video that allows them to see what the farmer sees in real-time. A Web-based customer service dashboard allows the advisor's organization to see open cases, resolution status, and farmer feedback in real-time. Android, iPad, iPhone
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Agworld
The app enables growers, crop consultants, farm staff, precision specialists, and operation managers to truly work as one. Agworld’s document management, data capture tools, farm maps, library of labels and SDS, and communication tools improve your workflow and increase your production efficiency. The app is the most convenient way to access, capture, manage and share your farm data from anywhere. The online / offline app allows you to get things done while in the field, even without an internet connection. The app automatically syncs all your information to your secure account once you are back in range. Agworld is integrated with Microsoft Power BI analytics platform. The latest feature is Frames by Agworld, which is a low-threshold API structure that allows other technology providers to visualize data in Agworld without having to go through the expense of creating bespoke two-way data integration. iPad, iPhone
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AgVend Grower Portal
AgVend's integrated Grower Portal is a custom-branded information and commerce app for ag retailers, designed to strengthen the relationship with your customers by powering your omnichannel grower experience. Your branded Grower Portal, powered by AgVend technology, is an integrated web and mobile application that keeps your customers digitally connected to your business. It provides your growers with the ability to pay invoices, access historical orders, request product prices, and more. Additionally, your customers and sales team will appreciate the convenience and efficiency gains of having this information accessible to them through a mobile application. Learn more.
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BeCrop
BeCrop is a proprietary technology developed by Biome Makers, integrating genomics, AI, and ag data to identify the microbial biomarkers and provide a meaningful explanation of soil function in agriculture, including biodiversity, crop vulnerability and nutrition. Biome Makers offers a microbiological soil test based on genetic analysis and machine learning systems. The BeCrop portal provides all the information regarding a crop in the palm of their hand. Users will find information about parcels, shown through a satellite map; intuitive and easy to understand reports; orders; and comparison tools (co-occurrence and heat mat) for comparing the results of the samples and the soil functionality. Android, iPhone, iPad
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Farm Dog
Farm Dog is the productivity platform for profitable agronomists. The one-stop portal provides your business with those tools that save you time in the field and in the office, improve your communication with your clients, and provide the data management solutions that your business requires. From scouting solutions to easy management of your clients’ documents, Farm Dog digitizes your operations in order to improve efficiencies and grow revenues. This allows you to strengthen your personal relationships with your clients. Farm Dog integrates with multiple platforms such as John Deere Operations Center and CDMS pesticide labels, provides imagery and soil features, and is available offline and online on iOS and Android.
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FarmQA
FarmQA is a digital toolset for agronomy that includes crop scouting, treatment recommendations, map layers, and complete reporting functionality. Originally FarmQA Scouting, the functionality has been significantly expanded to be a full-featured platform with mobile and web access. Use Scouting to increase crop scouting effectiveness while scouting standard row crops or specialty crops like grass seed, hops, and grapes. Everything you observe can be documented with efficiency and accuracy. Then, make the best recommendations for disease and pest treatment immediately using Advice. FarmQA Analytics allows you to view trends in real time as data comes in from the field, such as insect counts or corn yields across all fields. Display analyzed data in heat maps or graphical formats. The toolset is designed for agronomy service providers, specialty crop advisors, crop consultants, and agri-service companies like retail providers and regional cooperatives. Android, iPhone, iPad
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GeoPard Agriculture
GeoPard is a cloud-based mobile app for precision ag data with business intelligence capabilities. GeoPard Variable Rate (VR) prescription maps are used for fertilizing, crop protection, seeding, irrigation, desiccation, and optimization of crop inputs and yield while preserving resources. GeoPard provides offline maps, soil sampling planning, soil sampling results analytics, John Deere Operations Center integration, as-applied data visualization and analytics, automated multi-year field potential zones and in-season field management zones, variable rate application (Prescription/Rx) maps, field and region level satellite monitoring, advanced topography profile, and much more. Android, iPhone, iPad
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Agvance Grower360
Grower360 from SSI gives growers timely access to their information, creating a better relationship with ag retailers by enhancing the customer experience. Grower360 is one of the tools within the Agvance suite of products. Grower360 provides the portal to let customers view their accounts in real-time, see past activity, and view the details needed to make informed decisions. Designed with a “mobile-first” user experience, ag retailers' customers will have access to their data on any device…anywhere, anytime. Growers can view field boundaries, soil tests, maps, weather data, and a detailed timeline of activity for each field. On the grain side, customers will have a real-time view of all grain activity in addition to e-signature on contracts, cash bids, and futures price information. Android, iPhone, iPad
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Phytech
Phytech is a precision ag analytics company, focused on helping farmers to optimize yields by transforming real-time plant data into actionable, yield-enhancing recommendations. The Phytech mobile app is a production optimization solution that integrates plant-data, AI-based recommendations, IoT network, and hydraulic monitoring and automation. Features include clear visibility of plants’ needs, water-demand, health, and growth based on direct plant-sensing; smart AI-based irrigation recommendations; irrigation/nutrition scheduling and planning; and seamless execution of irrigation/nutrition plans. Based on real-time data from the plant, the fruit (in relevant crops), and the irrigation system growers can avoid stress, optimize water delivery, and achieve better and higher yields. Learn more.
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Semios
Semios allows you to remotely monitor and manage weather, pest pressure, water, and plant stress in one convenient place to produce a better crop. Get early warnings and instant feedback on frost, disease, and pest management. Gain insight into your daily and weekly operations. See trends, get degree day calculations, and use historical data to get insights into your farm. Set up alerts so that you never miss an important event. New Scout feature allows users to create scout notes, share observations with team members, view and organize notes, and much more. Android, iPhone, iPad
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Sirrus App
Sirrus helps agronomists and farmers collaborate on farming decisions by making field data accessible and easy to collect. By connecting to the agX Platform, standardized field data is available offline and can be shared with other users and applications. Users can scout crops for pest pressures and easily record and collect observation photos; create and share recommendations from the field; generate PDF reports and share via email or text; soil sample using a grid, zones, or previous soil sampling points; and much more. Android (Beta), iPhone, iPad
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Taranis Scout
With the Taranis Scout app, you can take the power of imaging, analytics, and comprehensive reporting to the field with automatic issue detection and quantified alerts delivered to you and your team anytime, anywhere. Prioritize fields to scout and sample, navigate to areas at risk, and record observations with just a few clicks. Use high-resolution or satellite layers to direct scouting activities, on or offline. Monitor field conditions like rainfall and GDDs, and access a large database of issues — from weeds to diseases, insects, and disorders — to record what you’re seeing. Add geotagged notes, photos, and voice memos to reports to validate services you offer to your client base, then email those reports directly from the field. Android, iPhone, iPad
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agriculture is booming. Just consider how spending on AI technologies and solutions alone is expected to grow from $1.7 billion in 2023 to $4.7 billion in 2028, according to Markets&Markets. That’s some serious financial horsepower fueling innovation from leading agricultural companies, as well as the nearly 300 AI-based agricultural startups in the U.S., according to recent analysis.
The AI explosion in agriculture is impacting mobile app development, too, especially as it relates to data. Specifically, AI is allowing apps to work with much larger datasets for analysis, says Reinder Prins, Marketing Lead at Leaf Agriculture, which focuses on data infrastructure in agriculture through API services that are used to power many agtech apps.
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“Without AI, the number of data points that can be used by an app while keeping a good user experience is relatively limited,” Prins says. “With AI, the number of different data points that can be connected and analyzed at the same time is much larger. This allows for new and novel mobile apps to be developed with features that cannot be created without AI. Especially for the large number of IOT in-field sensors now available, being able to tie all the different data points together to form robust analysis is key.”
Agricultural apps are incorporating multiple, different data types, such as weather data, machinery data, IOT sensor data, and satellite imagery, Prins says. “Without AI it becomes impossible to tie all these different data types together and turn the resulting analysis into a useful outcome,” he says.
The fusion of AI with mobile app development has ushered in a new era of efficiency and data-centric practices in the agricultural sector. This is playing out, according to industry experts, in a number of different ways, including:
Precision Agriculture: AI enables apps to offer real-time data analysis, helping farmers optimize resource usage like water, fertilizers, and pesticides for higher yields and reduced costs.
Crop Monitoring and Pest and Disease Detection: AI-driven mobile apps have the capability to identify potential issues such as pest infestations, diseases, or nutrient deficiencies at an early stage. They analyze data from diverse sources like satellite imagery and sensors to provide timely alerts to farmers and suggest interventions.
Weather Predictions: AI-powered weather forecasting apps provide accurate, location-specific data, helping farmers make informed decisions regarding planting, harvesting, and irrigation.
Market Insights: AI assists in market analysis, helping farmers make informed decisions on when and where to sell their products for the best prices.
Data Integration: AI streamlines data from various sources, such as sensors, drones, and IoT devices, into a single app, providing a holistic view of farm operations.
While these enhancements are impressive on their own, they’re likely just scratching the surface when it comes to what’s possible with AI and mobile apps in agriculture.
Key Trends to Watch in 2024
Sustainability is one area that will continue to benefit from AI-powered mobile apps, says Lior Goren Ruck, Vice President of Products at Prospera, which offers the Insights by Prospera mobile app.
“Sustainable farming practices are increasingly important,” she says. “AI will help by optimizing resource use and minimizing environmental impact. Mobile apps will incorporate AI to guide farmers on sustainable practices, such as reduced chemical usage, water conservation, and soil health management.”
Smart spraying will further the sustainability efforts in agriculture, adds Selin Erkök, Marketing Director at agtech startup Doktar, which leverages AI in several of its mobile apps. “AI significantly contributes to the optimization of pesticide utilization by ensuring precise application, which in turn mitigates waste and minimizes the environmental footprint,” she says.
AI’s ability to scale data standardization will also become increasingly important in 2024 and beyond.
“I think that gathering more standardized and accurate data will be an even higher priority for app developers in 2024 in order to keep improving the role of AI in agriculture,” says Leaf’s Prins. “Every AI model requires data to operate, and the more data available, the better potential analysis and results become.”
Mobile apps that use constant AI learning, based on constantly gathered data, will start to have an even bigger impact in 2024, Prins says. “In-field operations such as planting, spraying, and harvesting require the operators to constantly make adjustments, such as adjusting gauge-wheel depth, increasing fan speed, lowering a boom, and increasing droplet size,” he says. “AI models that learn constantly and that can access a huge database of images as examples, will be able to learn which conditions and which results relate to certain adjustments that can or should be made to a machine. Apps that offer this information will be invaluable to growers who have been battling to get enough qualified staff to operate their machines.”
Erkök also sees the agriculture sector experiencing a notable expansion in data collection, automation, and crop health monitoring through mobile apps in 2024. “The rising digitalization within this sector will generate a wealth of data encompassing a wide range of farming activities,” she says. “AI-powered mobile apps will play a pivotal role in standardizing field data collection, thereby ensuring data consistency and reliability.
“This standardization will significantly enhance the accuracy and quality of insights delivered to farmers. Furthermore, these AI-driven mobile apps will enable continuous monitoring of crop health, diminishing the necessity for manual oversight and supplying invaluable data that aids in maintaining optimal crop health.”
AI-powered mobile apps will also continue to play a pivotal role in precision agriculture in 2024, says Prospera’s Goren Ruck. “These apps will likely offer more advanced predictive analytics, enabling farmers to make data-driven decisions on resource allocation, crop management, and pest control,” she says.
2024 List of Apps for Agriculture
I’ve once again researched and evaluated the newest farming apps available for Androids, iPads, iPhones, and more. The apps listed in the slideshow – many of which are AI-powered – were either introduced or significantly updated in 2023. I’ve also included several older apps that may have been off your radar but are still worthy of downloading. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect to find in the slideshow, which will receive updates throughout the year.
Most Common Type: Precision Ag, Farm Management, Customer Service
Want more agriculture apps? Be sure to check out these other lists. If you have a favorite new app that is on my list or one that is not, tell me about it at [email protected] or post a comment below.
90905Best Agriculture Apps for 2024 (Update)
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Matt Hopkins is Senior Online Editor for the Agribusiness Group at Meister Media Worldwide (MMW), including such brands as CropLife, CropLife IRON, AgriBusiness Global, Global Agtech Initiative, and Cotton Grower. He is responsible for managing an array of digital products, including newsletters, websites, video, and social media. Hopkins originally joined MMW in 1994 as an editor for Greenhouse Grower magazine before transitioning to Business Manager of its MeisterPro division. He has a Communications Degree from Cleveland State University. See all author stories here.
