Using Technology to Grow Your Agricultural Business

Today, more than any time in the past, running an agricultural operation requires skill across an array of business areas. Technology can make this difficult task a little easier.

Applications, or apps, familiar to other small business owners may be helpful to farmers and ranchers as well. The following applications put time back in your day by helping you manage ag operations more efficiently and in some cases, cost-effectively as well. Best of all, many can be installed and operated from your smartphone, making it possible to get work done in the field, at home, and everywhere your ag business takes you.

Check out some of our recommendations below:

The first step in making operations more efficient at your farm or ranch is developing a mobile mindset. Managing operations used to be something that required a desktop computer, but today, technology has been minimized and upgraded for smartphones and tablet devices.

Many apps are developed specifically with farmers and ranchers in mind. Some are product-specific, and some are more intuitive than others, but all are designed to simplify your day-to-day routines. Tools like field notes and farm management offer you the ability to optimize your operation, all with the touch of a finger.

Here are some of the best apps for farmers and ranchers to help manage all aspects of ag operations.

Unsurprisingly, a number of apps have cropped up to help farmers and ranchers keep an eye on rainfall amounts, soil conditions and nitrogen levels, among other crop conditions. Some just monitor one condition, while others are comprehensive, accommodating field notes, inventory levels, spraying schedules, farm equipment and more all in one simple, integrated platform.

Top apps in this category include:

• Sirrus
• FarmLogs
• Growers Edge
• FarmFutures
• Farm at Hand
• Pocket Rain Gauge
• Nutrient ROI Calculator
• Citrus Pests Key
• NozzleCalc
• Farm at Hand
• Ranch Records
• Cropalyser
• ID Weeds

Many manufacturers, seed suppliers and equipment providers have developed apps specifically for their products and equipment. Connected Farm, for example, is Trimble’s solution for farm equipment management and allows crop planning, record keeping, budgeting, and financial recording features.

Managing employees can be as time consuming, if not more so, than crop and livestock management. Apps like BeetClock make managing workers’ time easier. Many mainstream accounting, payroll and expense management platforms have developed versions of their system specifically for farmers and ranchers.

Here are some of the best apps for simplifying accounting, supply cost tracking, invoicing and reporting:

• QuickBooks Online
• Xero
• FreshBooks
• Wave
• Expensify
• BeetClock

Explore a few of the apps listed above and find the ones that save you the most time. Many have free trial options that let you test drive the app before you pay for it.

Along with accounting and expenses, time tracking and password management can be a frustrating aspect of ag operations. There are a number of apps available to farmers to help manage yours and your employee’s time. Some of the top apps in this category include:

• RescueTime
• Toggl
• Eternity Time Log
• RescueTime
• My Minutes

Password Keeper apps like LastPass, Dashlane and Keeper Security give you an option outside of pen and paper to record passwords.

It can be time-consuming to stay informed of the latest developments in commodities, ag news, and local grain quotes; apps like AgMobile are customizable to provide relevant content to you.

If you sell direct to consumers or to vendors, apps like FarmFan can push out notifications when items are coming into season.

Apps can be incredibly helpful for managing daily operations. However, they can’t provide consulting or advice to help you accomplish your goals and grow your business. A new tool is only as good as its implementation.

Aldrich Advisors provides consulting, financial, and business planning for farmers and ranchers at every stage to help them grow and strengthen their ag operations. If you’re ready to spur growth and innovation, let’s talk.