These are the benefits of good agricultural field trials apps using a no-code app builder and digital forms for seed trials
A good Agricultural Field Trial Management System can be the difference between executing, monitoring, and analysing agricultural field trials with precision and efficiency, or facing delays, inaccuracies, and missed opportunities for optimising crop performance and productivity. We know, because we help companies all over the world build the best no-code agricultural field trials apps.
We’ve talked about the benefits of digital forms in seed trials and agricultural field trials, but today, we’re more about no-code.
If you’re reading this, you want to know what the benefits of seed trial apps and agricultural field trial apps REALLY are. Well, we’ve got you covered with use cases and some actual case study data to back it up!
In a nutshell (get it) seed trials and seed trial apps are essential for determining the best varieties of crops to plant in different environments and they provide essential insights into crop performance, helping farmers and researchers alike, make informed decisions on their seed planting, seed analyses and of course, seed trials! By using digital forms and no-code applications, the process of collecting data in the middle of a vineyard or field out in California, for example becomes way more efficient, replacing traditional methods of manual staking the ground and monitoring things like soil moisture and PH level and enhancing data management for various user needs, such as research, agronomy, and even vineyard management.
So Why Do We Need Agricultural Field Trials Apps?
We need solid agricultural field trials apps and management systems as they are critical for developing higher-yielding, disease-resistant crops and improving farming practices. Precision is everything when it comes to analysing seeds. To keep pace with modern challenges, companies are increasingly turning to technology to streamline their operations, increase precision, like we mentioned and create far greater crop yields time over time.
A major innovation, that we are proud to be a part of is our customer International Seed Manufacturing Company* and their use of no-code field trial apps that make data capture and seed trial management 10x more efficient in agriculture. You can read that case study in our digital forms and no-code apps case study page HERE.
But you want to know where that’ll benefit you right?
In this blog, we’ll explore how agricultural field trial apps are improving field management, showcasing REAL data from a study on no-code apps and trends in agriculture. We’ll also share real-world examples from a case study highlighting how the International Seed Manufacturing Company successfully used no-code apps to transform their agricultural practices.
Using a combination of data capture apps and digital forms to enhance efficiency and data management, this global leader in seed trials used forms2’s no-code app builder to automate field data capture and significantly improve trial accuracy.
But first a few questions we get asked ALL the time!
What Are Agricultural Field Trial Apps?
Agricultural field trial apps, a subset or otherwise known as of farming apps, are mobile platforms designed to collect, analyse, and manage data for crop and seed trials.
These apps, usually built with a no-code app builder like forms2 (because platform as a service is WAY cheaper than traditional development) allow agricultural managers, scientists, and field teams to gather accurate information directly from the field, whether it’s related to soil health, soil moisture, weather, equipment maintenance, crop growth, or seed performance and then analyse it. If it’s in a field, you can measure it with this!
By leveraging GPS, geolocation like what3words, and real-time data capture, these apps replace outdated paper forms and manual processes, ensuring more precise and efficient agricultural management – no more putting stakes in the ground and hoping Steve doesn’t knock them down on his tractor!!
In addition, using no-code apps for agriculture as well as digital forms for agriculture data collection makes things even more efficient by simplifying workflows and keeping data organised in the cloud and accessible on your tablet or smartphone, anywhere anytime, even in a field!
The International Seed Manufacturing Company, saw a 10x boost in seed trial accuracy by ditching paper and switching to forms2’s no-code app builder.
So let’s look at the benefits up close!
5 MAJOR Benefits of Using Agricultural Field Trials Apps
1. Accurate Data Collection
Agricultural trial apps (the good ones anyway) use GPS and geolocation technology like what3words to map out trial beds, ensuring accurate and reliable data collection by capturing precise data points. Before you had to map out fields with stakes and then hope they didn’t get moved. If they did, you could cross-contaminate seeds.
Our International Seed Manufacturing Company no-code apps and digital forms for agriculture case study demonstrates how switching from manual flags to digital geo-mapping reduced cross-contamination and errors exponentially.
By capturing precise GPS points that EVERYONE could access via their tablet and smartphone, their field teams knew exactly where trial beds were located, even when working on irregularly shaped fields.
2. Time and Labour Savings
Field trial apps save so much time. Simply by giving you the data you need. Traditional field trials previously used manual measurements, scouting, and recalculations if something changed, which is time-consuming and labour-intensive.
By building an agricultural field trials app with forms2’s no-code data capture app builder, the International Seed Manufacturing Company reduced the time needed to calculate field sizes from days to seconds. With automated data capture, there was no need to check with field managers if anything changed or realign trial beds – the data was in their tech stack, accessible via the app. Obviously, this meant a significant time and cost savings for their field teams.
3. Improved Seed and Crop
Easily the most useful benefit, and the thing we get asked most for when we talk with agricultural teams is “can we see inventory and crop management data?”. Well, when you connect your own tech stack, you can! One of the most powerful benefits of agricultural field trial apps is their ability to manage seeds and crops with accuracy. You can log exactly how much seed, when and where it was used and then connect that data to the crop yield using your data capture app.
You can set up your no-code app to make automated calculations for seed quantities and bed sizes. Again, International Seed Manufacturing Company avoided waste and almost eradicated seed trial and seed volume errors. This resulted in higher crop yields and more precise seed trial management for their clients. Their clients, who relied on them for seed testing including farmers, benefited from reliable agronomic data so they could make better planting decisions.
4. Seamless Data Integration and Analysis
The best agricultural field trial apps integrate with internal systems and analytics platforms – we’re happy to say forms2 can connect to your tech stack withe ase thanks to our API. The forms2 no-code app builder integrated seamlessly with the International Seed Manufacturing Company’s SQL server, allowing for real-time data exchange and reporting and it can integrate with YOURS too. In their case, this automation 10x’d their operational visibility and allowed managers to analyse trial results immediately without manual data entry – they could just look everything up whether it was water usage, seed life or even soil PH. [Link to the case study here if you’re interested!]
5. Offline Data Capture
If you;re ina field, there’s not always going to be a phone signal. One of the most practical features of the forms2 no-code data capture app platform is the ability to capture data offline – you fill in the data fields and when a signal is reached, it upload automatically.
The field teams at International Seed Manufacturing Company could gather trial data even in remote locations with poor connectivity, syncing the data to the cloud once a network became available. This ensured that no data was lost and the trial process remained uninterrupted – no more standing on a harvester trying to get the satellite to talk with your phone!
Key Features That Managers LOVE about No-Code Agricultural Field Trials Apps
1. Cross-Platform Compatibility (iOS & Android)
The flexibility to run the app on both iOS and Android devices makes it accessible for field staff on mobile phones and tablets – because not everyone or every team member has the same phone or tablet.
2. Access Control
Agricultural field trials apps allow management to set access controls, so only authorised personnel can view or edit certain trials. In the case of International Seed Manufacturing Company, this feature was essential for ensuring field staff only interacted with the trials they were assigned to and meant they only saw the areas they needed to, avoiding confusion.
3. Customizable Digital Forms
The forms2 no-code app builder offers fully customisable digital forms that allow users to capture images, videos, and e-signatures, along with dropdown fields featuring skip logic. These digital forms with highly customisable fields make sure your data entry can be tailored to the specific needs of each agricultural trial, field and even your user. Once the user completes the form, data is automatically sent for processing in the back office and then store din the cloud, streamlining workflows and providing valuable insights from agronomic field trials to help optimise production practices.
4. Weather Data Integration
The forms2 no-code app builder can connect to weather data add-ons, allowing companies to track environmental conditions at trial sites which not only helps you analyse seed viability in different weather conditions, but can help you stop sending teams out when it’s going to rain, hail or thunder storm! This feature is invaluable for managing irrigation and predicting how crops will perform under varying weather conditions and assessing soil moisture and PH levels while keeping your teams safe. Good data management is key for seed trials, so you need a no-code data capture app builder that helps you easily analyse, visualise, and share information to make better decisions and get the data you need about your seed!
5. Data Analysis and Insights at the Push of a Button
To say data analysis plays a big role in successful seed trials is a bit of an understatement. It’s liek saying plants MIGHT need water. The best way to understand how different seeds perform, uncover trends, optimise growing conditions, and ultimately make smarter, faster decisions that can lead to better yields and more efficient farming practices is to have the right data in front of you on your phone or tablet – NOT a piece of paper. If you can’t pull the data into a useable format, you’re wasting your time. To make things easier, with forms2, you can connect your own tech stack via our API, integrating your preferred analytics tools, warehouse management system, QR scanners – you name it, whatever you need to. This simplifies the viewing of data as you can make a request to the API and pull the collected data into your dashboard, so researchers can quickly analyse data, spot key findings on soil health or crop yeild, and make better descions and have much more accurate seed trials.
6. Collaborate Globally and Deliver Instant Insights
Field trial apps you can build using the forms2 no-code data capture app builder let managers collaborate effortlessly with teams worldwide while delivering real-time insights and statistical analysis to customers. Using mobile apps and IoT sensors, you can monitor critical factors like soil pH, pest control, crop productivity, moisture levels, irrigation schedules, and overall crop health. Paper forms can’t do that as fast as digital forms can!
With cloud-based data storage, teams can collect and analyse data on agricultural production techniques they’re trying, instantly, respond to changing conditions on the ground, and share accurate insights with clients in real-time. This makes scaling experiments in the agricultural sector WAY easier and adapting to new challenges 10x faster, giving you the flexibility and precision needed for better results thanks to data analysis that works FOR you.
7. Keeping Field Trials Secure and Compliant
Security and compliance are a big deal when managing field trials, especially with sensitive data like crop yields and soil conditions that competitors might want to snoop on – there’s also legal ramifications too. We take security VERY Seriously here at forms2 and we know it’s crucial to keep this info protected and ensure it meets regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and environmental standards. Any field trial apps that you build using the no-code forms2 platform have built-in security features like encryption, access controls, and audit trails to protect your data from unauthorised access. Plus, these tools help ensure you’re compliant with all the necessary rules, so you can focus on the research without worrying about security for the data collected. It’s all about making sure your data is safe, private, and in line with industry regulations – paper forms can’t do that.
Who Would Use Seed Trial Apps and Agricultural Field Trial Apps?
1. Seed Trial Apps and Agricultural Field Trial Apps For Seed Companies
Seed companies benefit greatly from no-code seed trial and agricultural field trial apps due to their ability to deliver precise, automated trial statistics at the push of a button – whther in-app or via email. Data capture and management are key for seed companies, as they need to analyse, visualize, and share crucial data across their organisation and with farmers or landowners who rely on these insights to understand what seeds to use and how they’re performing – this could be all over the globe, because not all fields are near each other!
For example, with an agricultural seed management and field trial app built on the forms2 no-code app builder, International Seed Manufacturing Company was able to enhance their research and development by performing detailed analyses like Stand Count Analysis and Water Usage Tracking, improving their ability to monitor crop health and optimise seed trial performance – which made them a leader in their field.
2. Seed Trial Apps and Agricultural Field Trial Apps For Chemical Companies
Chemical companies, like pest control or fertiliser companies use these apps to compare the efficiency of their products by leveraging accurate, standardised data collected through no-code apps. These apps require all necessary fields to be completed, reducing human error and ensuring high-quality data capture at all times so they are compliant, regulated and accurate. Trial managers can easily track pesticide efficacy, schedule equipment maintenance with automated reminders, and optimise production processes. Additionally, apps built on the forms2 platform allow for critical analyses such as Weed Detection and Plant Stress and Vigor Detection, which help chemical companies fine-tune their products and ensure optimal performance in various environments.
3. Seed Trial Apps and Agricultural Field Trial Apps For Crop Research Organizations
Crop research organisations use seed trial apps to offer cutting-edge services to their clients. You can create a no-code data capture apps that can integrate GPS data collection, Canopy Cover Measurement, and even drone data collection for larger plots of land if you’re handy wotha drone, providing real-time, detailed insights into crop health.
Organisations like yours can connect their own tech stacks, making use of tools like what3words, drone technology and lone worker protection digital forms to automate processes and improve efficiency. For example, International Seed Manufacturing Company was able to manage a vast amount of plots and use data from these apps to perform Plant Stress Detection and Soil Health Monitoring, ensuring comprehensive and reliable results that clients could actually rely on.
You Should Be Conducting Agricultural Field Trials with a No-Code App Builder
The future of agriculture is digital, and we’re happy to say that no-code app building platforms like ours here at forms2 are driving this transformation. Digital forms coupled with no-code data capture apps play a crucial role in the future of agricultural field trials by enhancing efficiency, accessibility, and data management. Where paper forms get lost, data gets misread and plots get miscounted or analysed incorrectly, robust no-code apps that are DESIGNED for data capture in agriculture and smart farming are the way forward.
Common FAQs around Seed Trials Apps & Agricultural Field Trial Apps
Why are field trials important?
Field trials are an absolute essential part of agriculture. They allow researchers, seed companies, and farmers to test different crops, seeds, or agricultural products under real-world conditions.
Field trials that our customers do with a no-code app built with our platform and digital forms, for example, provide accurate data on how plants perform in various environments, helping in the development of higher-yielding and more resilient crops. The data captured from these field and seed trials is crucial for fine-tuning production practices, which affects our crops, and even the quality of food we eat. They help make sure the best methods are used to improve yield potential and boost return on investment for stakeholders. Field trials also play a big role in optimising crop management, ensuring that agricultural inputs like fertilisers and pesticides are used the right way to get the best results. For example, with Weed Detection capabilities in seed trial apps, farmers can pinpoint problem areas and treat them more precisely, reducing waste and improving overall crop health.
What are agricultural field trials?
Agricultural field trials are experiments done on crops and plants to asses things like crop yield, if there’s a particular disease resistance, and how well plants and crops adapt to different environments. If you collect the data properly uisinga no-code app you can use it for predictive modeling, and analyse everything down to seed and soil health. Seed companies, chemical manufacturers, and researchers use them to test new products, plant varieties, or farming methods in real-world conditions. Data from these trials, like soil health, plant growth, and pest resistance, helps improve overall agricultural productivity.
Let’s look at an example:
Let’s say you’re a seed company conducting an agricultural field trial to test a new drought-resistant corn variety designed for the hotter areas of the world where rain is scarce, let’ say Australia or USA. Teams would then go out and gather data on factors like soil moisture, plant growth, and crop yield under various weather conditions like hot days, rainy days or even snow – depending on where the experiment takes place. After they capture that data and potentially use IoT like automatic soil testing tools, they can automate the collection of that data which then helps them determine how well the new variety performs in real-world conditions, allowing them to fine-tune their product before it’s introduced to farmers and is used on a larger scale.
What is a field trial evaluation?
A field trial evaluation involves assessing the performance of a specific crop, seed, or agricultural product in a controlled field environment. Effective data management plays a crucial role in these evaluations by helping to analyze, visualize, and share data accurately. This evaluation collects data on factors like crop yield, plant health, and resistance to disease or pests. A field trial evaluation is done so you can find out how well a product or seed variety performs in real-world conditions, providing valuable insights to help farmers, researchers, and agricultural companies improve their practices and products, reduce waste and plant the RIGHT seeds for the RIGHT soil.
Difference Between Agricultural Field Trials and Field Trial Evaluation
Agricultural field trials are experiments done on crops and plants to test things like how well they grow, resist diseases, and adapt to different conditions. These trials help researchers gather data to improve farming techniques or develop new products.
Field trial evaluation, on the other hand, is the process of analysing the data captured during these trials. It involves looking at the results to see how the crops performed, finding patterns, and making conclusions about which methods or products worked best.
Sew the seeds of success with digital forms and no-code apps for agriculture (I had to make a pun – if you’re reading this congratulations!)
Digital forms and no-code apps available on the forms2 platform makes field trial activities that were once tedious and time consuming into simple, precise and data heavy processes. So you can get more out of your trials, make data driven decisions faster and drive crop yield and resilience innovation.
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