Ten farming apps you should download

When you have a quiet moment this holiday season log onto your app store and download a few more!

The Land’s agribusiness reporter Jessie Davies asked mixed farmers what their favourite apps were and here’s what popped up: 

AgWorld is a farm management app which can be used by farmers and agronomists. The two can even connect to share information.

Farmers can use the app as a mapping tool to keep track of their crop rotations, pest burdens, inputs and outputs. 

Agronomists can use the app to set out their recommendations. Farmers can log onto the app and see what their advisor has recommended to apply.  

AgWorld comes with a monthly subscription fee but you can trial it for 30 days before committing. 

Another app, BackPaddock, is similar to AgWorld but farmers can also use it to keep track of their soil test results.

The  Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority has released an app (search APVMA) which makes information about agricultural and veterinary chemicals registered in Australia instantly accessible. This app provides information about active ingredients, withholding periods, product labels, and pack sizes.

Simply type in the product’s name and the app will generate the label. You can also search using active ingredients and even by weed type. 

Another handy app to keep track of your chemicals is Industry Inventories. Designed by mixed farmer Richard Thompson, "Ballantyne", Cassilis, this app helps users keep a record of what chemicals they have on their farm. Simply scan the barcode on the chemical’s packaging and it will record all necessary information in the app with ease.

Hone your weed management techniques with WeedSmart.

This app will ask you five questions relating to the farming system on a specific paddock at any given property. The tool will then rate your chances of herbicide resistance by assessing how effectively you are managing your weed seed bank.

If you’re rated at the extreme risk level you should talk to an adviser about how to reduce your risk.  

Farmers surveyed for this story use the following apps to keep track of weather events:

The Weatherzone app uses a combination of Bureau of Meteorology and Weather Zone meteorologists to produce accurate forecasts, hence why Weatherzone is the most popular weather app.

Increasing in popularity is YR – an app developed by the Norwegian Meterological Institute.

Rural retailers Landmark and Elders have their own apps, too. You can use their apps to check forecasts plus find out where their nearest store is.

Do you see ferals on your place while your driving about? The FeralScan app allows you to map sightings of pest animals and record the problems they are causing. The information you log can be seen by community groups, pest controllers, local government, catchment groups and individuals managing pest animals. The information can be used to help co-ordinate on-ground control tactics to address the problems the pests are causing.

Our friends at the NSW Department of Primary Industires have developed an app which allows farmers to stand anywhere on their property and plan a mixed ration for drought feeding.

Their app, called the Drought Feed Calculator, assesses the value of different feeds by simply comparing the results of three feeds or a mixed ration. There are 71 different feeds to select from, each with their own estimated average energy, protein and dry matter values. Values can be easily over written when feed test results are available.

There are a number of warnings built in to help you develop the best feed ration.

When an animal goes down, you need to act fast. The Veterinary Handbook for Cattle, Sheep & Goats app, made by Australian Livestock Export Corporation Limited, will cost you $4 but it’s worth it. Use it to look up diseases and syndromes for your livestock and find out how to treat them.   

GrainCorp’s apps have been running hot this summer.

GrainCorps app provides users with real-time commodity pricing information and information about their East Coast sites. Importantly, growers can use the app to generate Grower Delivery Summaries. Growers can use the summaries to keep a track of the grain they’ve delivered to GrainCorp sites and what each load was graded.

The giant grain trader also has another app, GrainCorp Connect. This free app allows users to view, compare and accept bids (prices set by the buyer) and offers (target price set by the grower) with easy filtering between sites and grades.​ You can build a list of preferred buyers, whose bids and payment terms work for you.

Want to know which nozzle to use to get the right spray application? There are multiple apps to help you select your nozzle depending on your droplet size and water rate. 

SpraySelect by Tee-Jet technologies will ask you to enter speed, spacing, target rate and drop size category. It will then make a list of recommendations.

If you drive a green and yellow rig, search for the John Deere Nozzle Select app in your app store.