Farm management apps are used to keep up-to-date records, even on-the-go. Cloud based apps that sync data between desktop and mobile devices enable you to record information in the field, and view it in real time from anywhere in the world. The best farm management apps will cover all areas of production from mapping your fields and planning your crops to shipping your finished products to distributors.
Some of the most useful features you should look for in farm management apps include:
Mapping
Using satellite imagery and GPS data, some farm management apps will allow growers to create accurate maps of fields or orchards. These maps can be used to calculate growth areas, chemical application amounts, replanting needs and to predict yields. Some apps will allow for further specification within fields to differentiate between rows and keep track of different varieties within a single field. Farming apps with GPS capabilities may even integrate with tractors and other equipment to track acres covered, guide employees in real time, or monitor driving speed.
Planting
Farm management apps can record what you have planted and when, with as much information as is necessary for your records. On the most useful apps you should easily be able to replant a field or block without having to re-enter all the specific crop information, and to record the spacing of your plants, any treatments they received, and even weather conditions at planting time.
Spray Records
Farm management apps may keep track of spray and pesticide applications to ensure both environmental guidelines and worker safety guidelines are being met. They will keep track of, and notify you when a sprayed field is safe to re-enter or to harvest from.
Some farm management apps will have information on the chemicals available to use in your area and allow you to input your own chemicals and treatments. Accurate spray recording allows you to track the efficacy of treatment plans so you can adjust sprays as needed, and meet regulations around maximum residue limits and safe harvest practices.
Tank Mix Calculators
For growers who track their sprays and chemical use, tank mix calculator apps can save a huge amount of time and eliminate the hassle of manual calculations. Apps that allow growers to calculate tank mixes will use sprayer output rates, field sizes, and tank recipes to calculate the number of tanks needed and total amounts per field.
Harvesting, Packing and Storage
Keeping track of inventory is a challenge that farm management apps help solve by tracking your harvest from field to storage. Mobile farm management apps allow you to record harvests directly from the field to assess your yields before packing or storage. Apps that record and organize field packing are incredibly useful as they enable you to trace your products back to the specific field/row and the person who packed it. These records help create better accountability and minimize loss, enabling you can keep track of products every step of the way.
Employee Tracking
Making employee schedules and organizing tasks is an essential component of farm management, and a good app should speed that process up. Farm management apps with mobile components make it simple for employees to be punched in and out from anywhere on your farm for more precise payroll records. Some apps will allow you to scan an employee badge to punch in, or to simply select an employee name and punch them in manually. Apps that can calculate both piecerate and hourly rates of pay make payroll easier and more cost effective and can boost productivity.
Reports
One of the most unique features of a farm management app as opposed to manual record keeping, is the ability to generate reports. Reports save time by compiling all of your farm data into useful, readable, forms. For example, timesheets and punch-clock information can be consolidated to make payroll simple and transparent. Global and national GAP/GHP audits are vastly simplified as the reports include all the information needed, in formats auditors are used to.
Farm management apps are powerful tools that can empower you to run your farm more efficiently. They make audits much easier and save enormously on administrative time. With centralized and easily accessible data, you can make informed decisions about your operation. If you are looking to increase productivity and streamline your records, farm management apps could be the solution you need.
Interested in learning more about Croptracker? Learn more about our Farm Management Software, or book a demonstration to schedule a meeting with our product experts.
And as always, if you're ever stuck, never hesitate to e-mail us at support@croptracker.com or Live Chat with us by clicking the green speech bubble 
in your bottom right-hand corner. We're always happy to help, so Croptracker can make your farm more efficient, safer, and more profitable!
