Latest GRDC apps handy in the field

Tech savvy cereal growers, who may already be considering their fertiliser requirements for the 2014 winter cropping season, now have access to a free Grains Research and Development Corporation winter cereal nutrition app.

GRDC Winter Cereal Nutrition: The Ute Guide is designed to assist growers to easily identify cereal nutritional disorders and can be used while standing in the paddock.

GRDC delivery platforms manager Tom McCue said the app covered both nutrient deficiencies and toxicities, and environmental, chemical and physiological disorders which could give similar symptoms to nutrient disorders. "The app contains prominent images, thorough descriptions of the issue and its contributing factors," he said.

The app features predictive search topics for disorders and in-field comparison of nutritional disorders with ID photos.

GRDC has also released an app to help with insect idenfification based on its Insects Ute Guide.

Mr McCue said while the app did not include all insects found in field crops, it did provide a valuable reference guide for common pests.

"The guide includes photos for multiple life-cycle stages and each insect is described in detail, with information on the crops they attack, how they can be monitored and other pests that they may be confused with," he said.

"Use of this app should result in better management of pests, increased farm profitability and minimum chemical usage."