Over the past three years an increasing number of farmers across the country have been investing in smartphones.
According to a recent survey done by Farm Credit Canada (FCC), three quarters (76 per cent) of famers polled across Canada are using a smartphone. This number is more than double the 29 per cent of famers who were using the technology back in 2011.
“This (increase) is because of applications and the utilities within smartphones; everything from GPS marking, to scouting apps, to fertilizer blending apps, to equipment apps are available on smartphones,” said Matthew Van Dijk, Senior Specialist, FCC Management Software.
“It is because of applications and the utilities within smartphones that these apps maximize now. All these manufacturers, whether it be equipment or input, they've all come out with an app, so everything from weather to field scouting can now be managed on a smartphone and that is a huge contributing factor to the increase in the usage of smartphones.”
The study indicates a new willingness to try new technologies before they become well known and established. Over 26 per cent of farmers reported that they were the first among their peers to try a specific technology, compared to the 16 per cent of producers who did back in 2011.
“In my opinion, the (apps) that are really beneficial are always the ones that solve a problem. For example, at FCC we have got the Field Manager Pro Mobile App which allows producers to document all of their on farm operations from the beginning of the season through to the end on the smartphone,” said Van Dijik.
“Record keeping is extremely important for farmers now whether it is for marketing purposes, food safety, traceability, whatever it may be. Now you can have those accurate records that used to be on paper, in a notebook and spread across the filing cabinet, in a smartphone. Apps like this are the ones that benefit them the most, they help solve that record keeping problem.”
The survey received 843 responses from producers across the country. Along with seeing a jump in the usage of smartphones, the survey also saw tablet use among producers jump from six per cent in 2011 to 54 per cent in 2014. The number of people who reported not using any type of mobile device was down from six per cent in 2011 to just three per cent in 2014.
Alyssa Krone, forage and livestock specialist with the Lakeland Agriculture Research Association (LARA), says she has definitely noticed more farmers in the region taking advantage of new technology.
“Talking to the producers around here, I've noticed that a lot of them are using (different apps),” said Krone. “Apps to look at crop prices and some of the other programs. I know a lot of the producers around here have started using iCalf for their calving season.”
iCalf is a program that records the management of calves. It allows producers to record the sire and dam's identification number along with the calf's ID, as well as record the birth date, weight with dam's body condition score and additional notes.
“It makes it simple,” said Krone. “All you have to do is carry your phone with you rather than booklets and papers and pens. It is easy for them to just input it in and then put it into their records later.”
Van Dijik said there are many easy to use applications out there that farmers can try out as a way to get into the new technology and recommended downloading a weather application for those just making the jump into new technology.
“Weather is always a hot topic in agriculture. Even just checking the weather or texting and staying connected with those on the farm is an easy way to get into using a smartphone without the intimidation factor of having to manage 20 different apps on your phone.”
Weather apps lead the way in usage amongst producers followed by ag-related apps and banking apps.
“I definitely have seen it through the presentations that we do. As soon as we preview an app at a presentation you can see everybody starting to download that application and starting to play with it,” said Van Dijik. “I'd say there is a lot of on the spot adoption now. When producers hear of an application that could be a potential benefit to them they are really quick to go out and try it. I definitely see the willingness for adoption of applications increasing and growing.”
