15 Best New Agriculture Apps Worth Downloading In 2014

Our appetite for downloading mobile apps is staggering, and there appears to be no slowdown in sight. In fact, iOS app downloads could exceed 100 million per day by 2017, according to mobile analyst Horace Dediu.

[Related: 17 Agriculture Apps That Will Help You Farm Smarter In 2017]

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This download frenzy has also had a huge impact on agriculture, with mobile app stores now overflowing with applications specific to our industry. But for every useful app, there are likely several that will be abandoned after one use. Consider 53% of ag retailers say they are using less than 20% of the total number of agriculture-related apps they’ve ever downloaded on their tablets on “at least a weekly basis,” according to a recent CropLife Media Group study.

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To help you choose the right agriculture apps for your already overpopulated mobile device, I’ve researched the latest ones to hit the market. For the purpose of this list, I selected apps that were introduced — or significantly updated — in 2013 and have a good chance of helping ag professionals do their jobs more efficiently in 2014. View the slideshow below to see which apps made the cut.

Honorable Mention

CropLife magazine. Okay, so I’m being slightly biased here. But CropLife magazine IS the trusted, exclusive information source serving the agricultural distribution channel. Retailers, distributors and manufacturers in the agriculture market rely on CropLife to understand how trends and events both inside and outside the industry will impact their businesses and the farmer-customers they serve. This free app combines the content that our audience respects and trusts with the interactivity and convenience of the iPad. Learn more here.

Optimizer 2.0 (update). The new function from Advanced Ag Solutions LLC models anticipated irrigation to reduce data entry for farmers and their crop advisors. It is part of the company’s Optimizer 2.0 app, which also recently unveiled the ability to download variable rate files to control seed and nitrogen rates within the field in its Solver feature. The app utilizes weather forecasts and soil moisture levels along with crop needs and common practices of area farmers to estimate when the farmer may have turned on or off his irrigation pivot. The software then allows the user to easily edit irrigated rates and timing in cases where estimates of irrigation might be off. (Available on most devices)

Apache on the Go. This mobile app from Equipment Technologies enables users to learn about the features and benefits of the Apache sprayer with a virtual 360 walk around, detailed specs and photos and videos on each Apache sprayer model. (iPad)

CP Products Calculators. These mobile apps allow users to set up calculations for all CP’s nozzles, both for aerial and ground. Need to know what is the best tip for your aircraft? CP Products’ calibration app will help you figure it out. Meanwhile, the flow rate calculator app will help users determine the best tip and orifice for their sprayer.  (Android, iPad, iPhone)

totheshelf. This mobile app from Agrotypos SA links growers to traders and vice versa. totheshelf intends to build a global network of agricultural products sellers and buyers. Farmers, cooperatives, wholesalers, brokers, importers, exporters, industry, retailers and anyone who involves in animal or plant products trading can download the app and seek new customers or business partners. The app is available in all countries and in two languages, English and Greek. (iPad, iPhone)

VRPETERS (Vehicle Rollover Prevention Education Training Emergency Reporting System). Developed by University of Missouri researchers, VRPETERS can detect vehicle collisions, side and rear overturns and rollovers due to centrifugal forces while turning curves.  In case of an accident, VRPETERS transmits emergency notifications to predefined contacts automatically. VRPETERS can save lives by changing the human behavior as a training tool; providing warning messages to the operator to prevent an accident; reducing the deployment time of rescue teams; and providing the GPS coordinates, the date and time of an accident.  (Android, iPad, iPhone)

Climate App. This University of Nebraska-Lincoln app helps agricultural producers track key temperatures. The Climate App publishes maps that show recent highs, lows and soil temperatures. The High Plains Regional Climate Center in UNL’s School of Natural Resources released the app to keep agricultural producers aware of the temperature ranges that could affect production timelines. The Climate App’s homepage currently presents five options: “Maximum Temperature (F) yesterday,” “Minimum Temperature (F) yesterday,” “7 Day Average Soil Temperature (4″),” “1 Day Soil Temperature (4″),” and “1 Day Precipitation Total.” Each option links to a map with a color scale that indicates the corresponding local information. (Available on most mobile devices)

iCropTrak Soil App. Replacing its PrecisionEarth mobile app, Cogent3D has introduced the new iCropTrak Soil sampling app. iCropTrak Soil can go from login to your field sample in three clicks; add new growers, farms, field boundaries and zones from the iPad while in the field; and export soil sampling results while in the field using one button via e-mail to the lab and customer using synchronization with the cloud, other iCT users and export to iCloud. (iPad)

Looking for more agriculture apps? Be sure to check out these other lists:

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