In recent years, several institutions have developed mobile applications (or “apps”) for tablets and smartphones with the goal of providing a service to all end users. The agricultural sector has taken a similar path, producing new apps for mobile devices (so called “Ag-Apps”) for agricultural consultants and producers with educational materials and support tools. There is an increasing interest in these “Ag-Apps” and the use of new technologies for increasing the efficiency in communicating and decision-making.
This summary provides a review and update of the current status of Ag-Apps. To check the 2014-15 summary article see: 2014-15 Ag-Apps Summary
Note: Most of the apps presented in this series of articles are free to download. Before paying for any app, please check online reviews or consult with any specialist working with that app or someone familiar with the app in order to understand its potential benefits and how it can assist you in your daily farming operation. As a general rule, an app needs to be “easy to use” and “intuitive.” Most apps do not come with a user guide or a manual. Take all these points into consideration before downloading and using apps.
Ag-Apps Classification:
For this series of articles, Ag-Apps are grouped into the following ten classifications with the goal of dividing apps by their different uses and purposes:
- ID Apps: For identification purposes (weeds, insects, diseases, and nutrients)
- CALC Apps: For calculating purposes (nutrient removal calculations, tank mixes, volume to spray, etc.)
- SCOUT Apps: For scouting purposes or for geo-positioning (soil sampling, recording notes, soil types, etc.).
- ECON Apps: For checking grain prices, market evolutions, fertilizer price trends, news and finances.
- GUIDE Apps: For diagnosing crop production issues in the field, primarily related to field guides (crop management: insect, disease, weed, and more).
- LIVESTOCK Apps: Apps related to the animal side, nutrition, health, and information on markets.
- IRRIGATION Apps: Apps related to field crop irrigation and water application.
- MACHINERY Apps: Apps for associated with agricultural equipment preparation, inventory, providing information of the machine.
- GAG Apps: GAG (general Ag-Apps) for general use, weather-related, for meetings, for reading magazines, among several other Apps’ properties.
- NON-AG Apps: For general use from e-readers to calculators, email, calendar, picture editing, and more.
This article features “ID Apps.” Each of the next nine issues of the eUpdate will feature a different group of Ag-Apps.
In summary, there are several different Ag-Apps with diverse applications and unique features that can assist key stakeholders in the farming decision making process.
1. Identification Apps (ID Apps)
These Apps are primarily utilized for identification purposes. This category can be sub-divided in different topics:
A) Weeds, B) Insects, C) Diseases, and D) Nutrients
A) Weeds ID
These apps can help identify a weed, or search for weeds by name, region, or appearance.
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MOBILE AGRICULTURAL APPS – REVIEW from KSUCROPS ©Kansas State University |
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ID Apps - Weeds |
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Name of App and Source |
Picture |
Brief description and cost |
Download |
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ID Weeds
University of Missouri Extension |
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Search, check a list or identify weeds. FREE |
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Ag Weed ID
Farm Progress |
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Weed identification for corn, cotton, rice, sorghum, soybeans, and wheat (75 weeds). FREE |
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Weed Alert
PBI/Gordon Corporation
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Identify weeds by name, by appearance, and by region. FREE |
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Federal Noxious Weeds Key U. S. Department of Agriculture |
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This app is a useful resource for seed professionals and anyone with an interest in, or a need to know about, noxious weeds. FREE |
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Weed ID Monsanto Company |
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The Weed ID app is a tool that allows you to identify and map weed pressures through a dynamic selection criteria process. FREE |
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Weed ID: The Ute Guide Grains Research and Development Corporation |
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This app is designed to assist growers in the identification of common weeds (Australia). Pictures at varying growth stages are presented on this app. FREE |
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B) Insects ID
These apps can help identify insects (pests) and beneficials, quantify insect damage, and determine insect threshold.
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MOBILE AGRICULTURAL APPS – REVIEW from KSUCROPS ©Kansas State University |
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ID Apps - Insects |
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Name of App and Source |
Picture |
Brief description and cost |
Download |
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Aphid Speed Scout
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Quick and easy approach to measure aphids. FREE |
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Dupont Pestbook
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Designed to simplify identification of pests and beneficial insects in your fields. FREE |
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Western Bean Cutworm (WBC) Speed Scout
University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
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Speed scouting is a new method for determining whether WBC populations have reached the action threshold for treatment. FREE |
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Insect ID Grains Research and Development Corporation |
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Reference guide for insect pests commonly affecting broadleaf crops. Photos are provided, and each insect is described in detail. FREE |
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IPM Toolkit
University of Wisconsin Nutrient and Pest Management Program |
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Read news articles, view videos, download publications, and access pictures to aid you in adapting IPM practices. FREE |
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Atlas: Insects of World
ASV Apps |
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Pocket handbook for anyone interested in learning about insects. It has pictures of most common insects on Earth. FREE |
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University of Nebraska-Lincoln
DuPont
C) Diseases ID
These apps can help identify a disease, or search for disease by name or picture.
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MOBILE AGRICULTURAL APPS – REVIEW from KSUCROPS ©Kansas State University |
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ID Apps - Diseases |
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Name of App and Source |
Picture |
Brief description and cost |
Download |
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Soybean Diseases of SD
South Dakota State University |
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This iPhone app was assembled to provide growers with easy-to-use diagnostic information for a number of major soybean diseases. FREE |
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Cereal Disease ID
BASF |
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Cereal Disease ID app gives access to information about common diseases of cereal crops. FREE |
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DEPI Crop Disease DEPI Crop Disease |
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The DEPI Crop Disease app provides quick access to current disease resistance ratings and an extensive disease image library. FREE |
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Plant Health from APS American Phytopathological Society |
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APS reference apps for plant diseases found on turfgrass and tomatoes. Mobile tools featuring photos, ID keys, and management recommendations. FREE |
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A&L Plant Disease Diagnosis A&L Canada Laboratories, Inc. |
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This app was designed to give you the ability to diagnose disease in your crops by providing some pictures and basic information. FREE |
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Veg Pest ID
Break Through Applications Pty Ltd |
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This app helps farmers and agricultural professionals identify pests (insects, diseases, and disorders) on vegetable crops. FREE |
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D) Nutrients ID
These Apps can help identify a nutrient deficiency, or search for a deficiency by name, picture, and field crop.
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MOBILE AGRICULTURAL APPS – REVIEW from KSUCROPS ©Kansas State University |
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ID Apps – Nutrient Deficiencies |
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Name of App and Source |
Picture |
Brief description and cost |
Download |
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Crop Nutrient Deficiency Photo Library International Plant Nutrition Institute |
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A comprehensive collection of crop nutrient deficiency photos for 14 prominent crops. Text descriptions are also provided. FREE |
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Potassium Gallery
International Potash Institute (IPI) |
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This app has quality pictures portraying potassium (K) responses to fertilizer applications and also depicting K deficiencies in different crops. FREE |
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Crop Nutrient Deficiencies AG-PHD |
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Users can search for deficiencies by nutrient type or browse photos of crops showing deficiency. FREE |
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Yara CheckIT Yara International |
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This app gives farmers a photo library to allow a simple and fast ID of possible nutrient deficiency. Then it gives further information on how the deficiency affects that crop. FREE |
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Winter cereal nutrition Grains Research and Development Corporation |
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This app is designed to help growers easily identify cereal nutritional disorders. It covers both nutrient deficiencies and toxicities. FREE |
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KALI-TOOLBOX K+S KALI GmbH |
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The K+S KALI GmbH app provides you with the most essential information regarding mineral fertilization (including pictures). FREE |
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Each of the next nine issues of the eUpdate will feature another classification of Ag-Apps from our KSUCROPS Crop Production team and the K-State Department of Agronomy!
Ignacio A. Ciampitti, Crop Production and Cropping Systems Specialist
ciampitti@ksu.edu
Jeffrey Albers, Agronomy undergraduate student in crop production, KSUCROPS Team
jjalbers@ksu.edu
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