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Linda GeistTROY, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension’s website lists numerous apps to help in decision-making on the farm, says MU Extension agricultural engineering specialist Charles Ellis.
“These apps can help you make objective decisions to better manage your crops and livestock,” Ellis says. “By entering information from your farm, you can get answers specific to your operation.”
MU Extension has a large list of helpful apps at https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/precision-agriculture/precisionag-agriculture-and-livestock-apps.
Another comprehensive app website is AgPhD. It contains a planting population calculator, spray tip guides and apps on fertilizer removal and corn and soybean diseases, among others. Find it at https://agphd.com/agphdmobileapps.
Ellis highlights a few apps that he finds helpful:
• Horizon Point, http://agebb.missouri.edu/horizonpoint gives real-time weather information on air and soil temperatures, wind speed and more. You can sign up for a customized daily email with planting depth soil temperatures, stored grain management moisture tables, rainfall index monitors, fall nitrogen application charts, rainfall runoff estimators and animal comfort indices. There’s also helpful information for weed and insect scouting. In addition to current data, users can access historical information and forecasts for temperature and precipitation.
• Corn GDD Tool at https://mrcc.purdue.edu/tools/corngdd, is a good modeling tool for silking, black layer and frost risk.
• Midwest Cover Crop Council Decision Tool at https://www.midwestcovercrops.org/selector-tools.
• Crop Water Use Application at http://ag3.agebb.missouri.edu/horizonpoint/cropwater.
• Weed ID guide, https://weedid.missouri.edu/, MU Extension’s source to identify weeds.
• Purdue Extension also offers several online guides for corn and soybean scouting of disease and insects. These are available on your phone’s app store.
• University of Wisconsin offers a nitrogen price calculator at https://ipcm.wisc.edu/apps/n-price-app/ .
• Tarspotter, University of Wisconsin, https://ipcm.wisc.edu/apps/tarspotter/.
• Herbicide Injury ID app at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/herbicide-injury-id/id1297001308.
For grain drying information, Ellis recommends these resources from other universities:
- Equilibrium moisture calculator (Clemson University)
- Apps and spreadsheets (University of Arkansas)
- Corn GDD decision support tool (Purdue University)