# Sporecaster — Soybean White Mold Forecaster

> Soybean white mold risk forecaster for farmers using weather and crop data. (iPhone/iPad app by UW-Madison Integrated Pest Management program.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sporecaster/id1379793823 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [UW-Madison Integrated Pest Management program](https://appshunter.io/developer/455090091)
- Category: Business, Utilities
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.00/5 from 4 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.0 · 6 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2018-05-12
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sporecaster/id1379793823/reviews.md

## What is Sporecaster?

The purpose of Sporecaster is to assist farmers in making management decisions for white mold in soybean. The best time to manage white mold is during flowering (R1 and R2 growth stages) when apothecia (small, mushroom-like structures) are present on the soil surface. Apothecia release spores which infect senescing soybean flowers, leading to the development of white mold. University research has indicated that the appearance of apothecia can be predicted using several variables including weather and amount of soybean row closure in a field. Based on this research, models have been developed to forecast the risk of apothecia being present in a soybean field. Farmers can easily input site-specific information about their soybean field into this app, which combines this information with the research-based models to predict the best timing for white mold treatment or if treatment is even needed at the time.

Sporecaster uses GPS coordinates to determine if past local weather has been favorable for the development of apothecia during soybean flowering in a field. Models in the app use 30-day averages of maximum temperature, relative humidity, and maximum wind speed to predict favorable conditions for most soybean growing regions. Based on these predictions and crop phenology, a site-specific risk prediction is generated for three scenarios (non-irrigated soybeans, soybeans planted on 15" row-spacing and irrigated, or soybeans planted on 30" row-spacing and irrigated).

## Key features

- White mold risk prediction
- Site-specific forecasts
- Weather data analysis
- Crop phenology integration
- Management decision support
- GPS-based location


## Frequently asked questions about Sporecaster

### What is Sporecaster used for?

Sporecaster assists soybean farmers in making management decisions for white mold. It predicts the risk of white mold by analyzing weather and crop growth stages to determine the best timing for treatment.

### How does Sporecaster predict white mold risk?

The app uses GPS coordinates to access local weather data, analyzing 30-day averages of temperature, humidity, and wind speed. This data, combined with crop phenology, feeds into research-based models to forecast risk.

### What information does Sporecaster need from farmers?

Farmers input site-specific information about their soybean fields, including GPS coordinates and details about irrigation and row spacing for different scenarios.

### What are the different risk scenarios Sporecaster provides?

Sporecaster generates risk predictions for three scenarios: non-irrigated soybeans, irrigated soybeans planted on 15" row spacing, and irrigated soybeans planted on 30" row spacing.

### Is Sporecaster available on multiple devices?

Yes, Sporecaster is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices, allowing farmers to access forecasts on their preferred Apple hardware.

### When was Sporecaster last updated?

Sporecaster was last updated on October 7, 2022, indicating ongoing support and potential for model refinements or bug fixes.

### What is the age rating for Sporecaster?

Sporecaster has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users, including younger individuals involved in farming operations.

### Does Sporecaster have ads?

No, Sporecaster does not contain advertisements, providing an uninterrupted user experience focused on agricultural decision-making.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.41.3 — 2022-10-07

Minor bug fix causing crashes

### 1.41.2 — 2022-09-27

Bug fix for pull to refresh causing crashes

### 1.41.1 — 2022-09-16

Minor bug fixes and improvements

### 1.41 — 2022-01-28

Fixed a bug causing fields in certain time zones to download weather incorrectly.

### 1.40.2 — 2021-08-12

Weather service has been updated. Minor bug fixes.

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All apps by UW-Madison Integrated Pest Management program: https://appshunter.io/developer/455090091

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*