Farmers are starting to adopt smartphone and tablet computer technology at a breakneck pace, and in recognition of that trend, DuPont Pioneer officials released 2 new mobile apps to help farmers manage a growing amount of data they're gleaning from their fields.

Friday at the 2013 Commodity Classic in Kissimmee, Florida, Pioneer leaders rolled out "the first wave" of new mobile apps with the Field360 app for Apple iPhones, iPads with future functionality on the Android platform. The app is map-based utility that allows farmers to manage and track agronomic factors and connect directly with their Pioneer field agronomists and sales professionals, according to a company report. A second called the Field360 Plantability app allows farmers to scan a tag on seed bags to get instant information on how to adjust their planter to maximize its performance. The Plantability app is currently available on both Apple and Android platforms.

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Though the apps help simplify reams of complex field data, the main goal is much simpler, says DuPont Pioneer president Paul Schickler.

“In today’s complex, data-intense farming operations, growers need a way to sort through all their data to make better decisions,” Schickler says. “Information is only relevant if it is used in a way that can help increase the entire operations’ profitability, and that next generation of whole-farm management begins today.”