App enables farmers to keep easily accessible record of fertiliser usage

Farmers will be able to keep a more easily accessible record of their fertiliser usage with a new mobile phone app created by Teagasc in association with Vodafone.

Formally launched by Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney at the National Ploughing Championships in New Ross, Co Wexford, the Teagasc app features an interactive “fertiliser tracker” tool, which can be used by farmers to record fertiliser purchases and compare the total Nitrogen (N), Phosphate (P) and Potassium (K) actually used to their annual fertiliser plan.

The new app also carries a link to the mobile version of the Teagasc website, enabling users to keep in touch with the national agri-research organisation’s latest news, upcoming events and current publications.

Vodafone Ireland enterprise solutions specialist Charlie Marriott said: “The agri industry is highly innovative and the Teagasc app is a prime example of how mobile technologies can really assist the farming community to better manage their day to day business.”

Teagasc director Gerry Boyle said Teagasc is delighted to have partnered with Vodafone Ireland on the development of the app that will assist farmers use the latest technology to manage their fertiliser and nutrient usage more precisely.

Currently, farmers manually review the quantities of fertiliser they purchase from suppliers, and compare it to a nutrient management plan prepared for their farm, which sets out the amount of Nitrogen (N), Phosphate (P) and Potassium (K) they can use in the year ahead. The new app allows farmers to check their usage at any time and in any place reducing the amount of time involved in carefully managing this process. Farmers can quickly and easily use the app on the move or at the merchants store when discussing prices.

The app concept was developed by Teagasc advisers Fintan Monahan, Stuart Childs and Gordon Peppard. They were responding to requests from their farmer clients for a tool to help them more effectively keep track of their fertiliser purchases and usage.

Teagasc says it will continue to develop and improve the app in future years. It is now available for free on the App Store for iPhone users and the Play Store for Android users.

Meanwhile, also at Heathpark yesterday, Mr Coveney launched a new website for the department, accessible at http://m.agriculture.gov.ie. The new service provides better mobile access to the more popular areas of the main website. Users of the site will also be able to access a free text messaging service, a promotion unveiled to encourage farmers to make greater use of the website.

The department launched a text messaging service earlier this year to notify those who have signed up for important issues and deadlines.

* www.agriculture.gov.ie/mobileupdates