Smartphones on the Farm: An Introduction to Apps for Agriculture

If a smartphone seems like a techno-luxury instead of a hard-working farm tool, think again.  There is a world of handy applications and record-keeping functions on these devices that can make your farm run more smoothly and profitably.

Horticulturalist and landscape designer Michelle Podolec will introduce a variety of economical tools available on smartphones designed for and easily adaptable to farm life. This class will start with an introduction to smartphones and how make a wise choice among the different data plans, features, and brands when your budget is tight.  We will look at how to find inexpensive or free applications for smartphones in general and exclusively for farm operations.  Michele will demonstrate apps related to weather forecasts, product inventory, pest management, customer relations, and chemical use.

Jill Stackpole of Bloomfield Honey Farm will demonstrate how smartphones can serve as inexpensive credit / debit card swipe acceptance terminals for farm market and other direct sales.

Any farm owner who wants to quickly move up the learning curve of mobile information technology should attend this informative workshop.

Class fee: $10 per person.

Pre-registration required by April 4, 2011 by calling Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ontario County at (585) 394-3977 x427 or e-mail Nancy Anderson nea8@cornell.edu