Best Apps for Farmers (2024): Essential Agriculture Apps & Tools

We share our list of the best apps for farmers, such as essential agriculture tools for crop management, eCommerce, livestock tracking, and farm marketing.
Young farmer taking photo of plant in greenhouse with smartphone
Written by
Nina Galle
Published on
October 4, 2024

Mobile apps and web apps are revolutionizing the farming industry, enabling farmers to increase productivity, efficiency, and decision-making. From e-commerce and crop management to weather forecasts and financial tracking, farm apps are becoming an indispensable tool on the farm. With the rapid advancement of agricultural technology, selecting the right farm software can make a significant difference in farm operations. Whether you're managing a large farm, food hub, CSA or other agricultural operation, there's an app to meet your needs.

In this guide, we share the best apps for farmers, categorized by their key functions, to help you make informed decisions that improve farm management and productivity.

Key takeaways

  • Apps help improve farm operations, increasing efficiency, saving time and reducing manual labor.
  • Apps can provide immediate access to important farm data on sales, inventory, weather, crop conditions, and livestock health.
  • Efficient management of resources like water, fertilizer, and labor helps reduce operational costs.
  • Farm apps offer data-driven insights that empower farmers to make informed decisions, improving yield and sustainability.
  • E-commerce and farm-to-market apps connect farmers with buyers, facilitating easier product sales and boosting revenue.

Benefits of utilizing farming apps

Farming apps offer a variety of benefits that can help with agricultural efficiency and productivity. Here are some of the key benefits of using farm apps:

1. Access to data-driven insights

Apps for farming provide real-time data on weather, soil conditions, and crop health, allowing farmers to make informed decisions quickly. By integrating analytics and predictive tools, these apps help optimize resource use, improve planning, and reduce risks, leading to more effective farm management.

2. Improved productivity and yield

With continuous monitoring of crop health, farmers can take immediate action to address issues like pests or diseases. This proactive approach helps with field operations, maintaining crop health and boosting yields. Precision technology also ensures that water, fertilizer, and other inputs are used efficiently, resulting in healthier crops and increased productivity.

3. Cost reduction and efficiency

Farming apps streamline processes such as inventory management, farm logistics, and resource tracking. By reducing manual labor and automating routine tasks, farmers can save time and lower operational costs. Efficient management of inputs like water and fertilizers further reduces waste and maximizes returns.

4. Quick access to expertise and support

Many apps for farming offer direct access to expert advice and troubleshooting, helping farmers quickly address challenges such as crop diseases, pest infestations, or operational issues. This immediate support reduces potential damage and helps farmers maintain optimal farm performance throughout the growing season.

Popular types of farm & agriculture apps

In the modern agricultural sector, digital tools have become pivotal in enhancing farm productivity and efficiency. With the advent of mobile applications designed specifically for agricultural operations, farmers have access to a wealth of information at their fingertips, aiding them in making informed decisions, optimizing yield, and effectively managing their land and livestock. Farming apps span a wide range of functionalities, from crop monitoring, farm analytics, and farm data integrations to livestock management, facilitating virtually all aspects of farm operations.

Farm-to-market apps

Farm-to-market apps serve as key insight tools for growers, simplifying the decision-making process from planting to selling. They allow farmers to maintain accurate records, manage their teams, and oversee chemical applications. A pivotal innovation in this category is the reduction of double data entry – a time-consuming task where information written on paper in the field is later re-entered into software systems.

Farm management apps

Farm management apps are quintessential for farmers seeking to enhance their farm operations' efficiency and profitability. They are comprehensive digital solutions that manage various aspects, such as farm CRM, inventory management, and production scheduling. With advanced farm management apps, farmers can not only track field boundaries and crop history but also utilize AI for real-time data analysis and record observations on the go.

Weather tracking apps

Weather plays a critical role in agriculture, making weather-tracking apps indispensable for farmers. These applications offer real-time data and forecasts, allowing farmers to plan and safeguard their crops accordingly. Features like crop growth stage notifications can help farmers anticipate and respond to potential weather-related impacts, such as frost events or heat waves, ensuring the protection and success of their crops.

Soil analysis apps

Soil health is the bedrock of successful crop production. Soil analysis apps integrate with on-site sensors to provide real-time data on soil moisture, nutrient levels, and composition, ensuring crops receive the right care at the right time. This information is crucial for making decisions on fertilizer and water applications, ultimately leading to better crop uniformity and reduced crop vulnerability.

Farm supply chain and logistics apps

Within the broader network of the agricultural ecosystem, farm supply chain and logistics apps play a critical role in connecting various points of the operational chain. These apps help farmers manage inventory, track equipment prices, and analyze logistics, thereby improving efficiency throughout the farm to market process. Real-time data facilitated by these apps feed into the larger farm management systems, contributing to overall productivity gains.

Livestock management apps

Livestock management is yet another sphere where apps have made significant inroads. Apps like Herdwatch and CattleMax provide comprehensive solutions for registering livestock births, monitoring health, and managing feed resources. These ensure compliance with regulations, improve the monitoring of animal health, and optimize livestock farm operations. By focusing on specific needs such as calf registration or weight recording, these apps provide tailored solutions that drive agricultural success.

Top 11 useful apps for farmers (free and paid)

Here is a curated list of essential and must-have apps for farmers:

1. Local Line: App for farmers to sell produce, meat, and more online

Local Line is an all-in-one platform for direct farm-to-consumer sales, making it easy for farmers to list and price products, manage orders, and foster local connections.

Key features:

Try a free 7-day trial of Local Line - no credit card required

2. Cattlytics: Livestock management made easy

Cattlytics simplifies cattle management with a user-friendly dashboard to track cattle health, breeding, and performance. It even works offline, making it ideal for remote areas.

Key features:

  • Track weight, body condition, and weaning.
  • Breeding and production management tools.
  • Multilingual report export for diverse teams.
  • Offline capabilities for remote locations.

3. Tend: Efficient crop management solutions

Tend offers a comprehensive platform for crop planning, record-keeping, and operational management, helping farmers streamline tasks like sales records and harvest workflows.

Key features:

  • Crop planning and task management.
  • Sales and inventory tracking.
  • Harvest workflow tools.

4. Agrivi: Comprehensive farm management software

Agrivi empowers farmers with data-driven decision-making, covering workforce, inventory, and financial management, while automating disease and pest alerts.

Key features:

  • Workforce, inventory, and financial management.
  • Automated disease and pest alerts.
  • Data-driven insights for better farm performance.

5. BushelFarm: Real-time monitoring and tracking

BushelFarm allows farmers to monitor finances, crop history, and operations in real-time, providing key insights into operational and financial performance.

Key features:

  • Real-time financial and crop monitoring.
  • Insights into operational efficiency.
  • Crop history and performance tracking.

6. CropX: Advanced soil and irrigation insights

CropX integrates hardware and software to deliver real-time soil, water, and crop condition monitoring, making irrigation and soil management more efficient.

Key features:

  • Real-time soil and irrigation tracking.
  • Scalable system with sensors and gateways.
  • Agronomic recommendations for irrigation.
  • Advanced soil health monitoring.

7. Climate FieldView: Precision farming technology

Climate FieldView delivers deep insights into farm operations, helping farmers tailor fertility and seeding plans for optimal yield across different field zones.

Key features:

  • Tailored fertility and seeding plans.
  • Cross-device availability for easy access.
  • Yield optimization through field variability analysis.
  • Digital tools for efficient resource management.

8. AgriWebb: Comprehensive livestock management and farm mapping

AgriWebb is designed for livestock farmers, offering tools for farm mapping, livestock tracking, and performance analysis to enhance farm efficiency.

Key features:

  • Livestock health and breeding tracking.
  • Farm mapping and field usage insights.
  • Compliance tracking for health and safety.

9. AcreTrader: Buy, sell, and manage farmland with advanced tools

AcreTrader is not only a farm management app but also a platform that helps farmers buy and sell farmland. It offers high-resolution satellite imagery and data analytics to provide detailed insights into land quality, crop performance, and soil health. This combination of real-time data and marketplace features makes it easier for farmers to make informed decisions when purchasing or selling land, while also optimizing current farm operations.

Key features:

  • Buy and sell farmland with detailed property listings.
  • High-resolution satellite imagery for crop and soil monitoring.
  • Real-time data on land performance and field conditions.
  • Alerts for potential crop issues based on satellite data.

10. Weather Underground: Reliable weather forecasting for farmers

Weather Underground provides hyper-local, real-time weather forecasts and severe weather alerts, helping farmers optimize planting and harvesting schedules.

Key features:

  • Hyper-local weather forecasts.
  • Real-time weather updates.
  • Severe weather alerts for crop protection.
  • Radar maps and temperature tracking.

11. Ambrook: Financial management made easy for farmers

Ambrook simplifies financial management for farmers and industry operators with an intuitive accounting platform that centralizes workflows and automates recordkeeping, enabling users to gain clarity over their finances in less than an hour.

Key features:

  • Smart tagging for tracking cost of production and profitability.
  • Streamlined tax preparation with Schedule F & C classifications.
  • Mobile app for capturing receipts, checks, and bills on the go.
  • Automated expense reporting with company cards.

Farm and agriculture app trends to watch

The agricultural sector is on the brink of a technological revolution in the coming years with mobile applications at the forefront. Artificial intelligence and AI-powered apps will revolutionize the way data is collected in the field, ensuring consistency and reliability—an essential for making informed decisions in crop management. This surge in AI farm tools will combine farm data integrations, farm analytics, and real-time data to offer a holistic and powerful farm management experience.

Ongoing advancements in farming apps include features for monitoring crop health, providing farmers with real-time updates and critical insights for keeping crops at their optimum condition, and minimizing the need for physical inspections. Agriculture's AI evolution is set to enhance precision farming, allowing for finely tuned predictions and actionable insights derived from analyzing large data sets.

Choosing the right apps for your farm

Selecting the right farming apps can significantly impact the efficiency and productivity of your agricultural operations. Whether you need tools for managing livestock, monitoring crop health, optimizing irrigation, or handling finances, there are many specialized apps to choose from. However, all-in-one farm management solutions can provide the greatest value by streamlining multiple aspects of your farm business in a single platform.

Farm apps like Local Line stand out as all-in-one farm solutions for farm marketing and eCommerce. Local Line not only helps you sell directly to consumers but also offers integrated tools like farm CRM, inventory management, point of sale (PoS) systems, and subscription services. With its easy-to-use platform, Local Line empowers farmers to grow their customer base, optimize sales processes, and manage their entire operation seamlessly.

If you’re looking for a farm app that simplifies your marketing efforts and connects you with your sales channels, Local Line is a great choice. Its features are designed to support modern farming enterprises, allowing you to efficiently run your business while staying focused on what matters most—growing and producing quality farm products.

Get started with Local Line

Learn why Local Line is trusted by thousands of farmers and food hubs around the world.

Frequently asked questions about farm and agriculture apps

What are farming apps?

Farming apps are digital tools available on mobile or web platforms designed to help farmers manage their agricultural operations more effectively. They facilitate informed decision-making by offering a suite of features such as real-time data on crop monitoring, pest management, and farm analytics.

How can agriculture apps help to improve productivity?

Through the use of farm data integrations, farmers can access current information on crop conditions from diverse data types, including satellite imagery and IoT sensor data. This enables proactive decision-making to maintain crop health and optimize production. Additionally, apps can manage farm CRM, subscriptions, and marketing, making operations more efficient.

Do farm management apps support inventory and financial tasks?

Yes, farm management apps often include farm inventory management, farm payments, farm PoS, and eCommerce features. This allows farmers to handle the financial aspects of their business, from sales to supply management, all within a single platform.

Is there an app to connect with local farmers?

Yes, Local Line is an app that helps connect consumers and businesses with local farmers. It offers a Supplier Discovery tool that allows users to search for farms by location, product availability, and other criteria, making it easy to find and connect with local suppliers.

Nina Galle Local LIne
Nina Galle
Nina Galle is the co-author of Ready Farmer One. She continues to arm farmers with the tools, knowledge, and community they need to sell online at Local Line.
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