Farming for geeks is about to get easier, thanks to a new software development platform pioneered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and coming soon to a corn-field near you.

FORBES: Farming by Smart Phone, There's an App for That

Qualcomm recently unveiled a platform and software development kit that allows developers to build new applications that bring online and offline worlds together.

FORBES: Mobility Seeds The Cloud

That way, they can minimize software development needs while still offering variety, which could defend against cyberattacks targeted at a specific type of software platform.

CNN: U.S. Army may soon equip troops with smartphones

With new releases of Flash Platform tools including an AIR 2.5 software development kit (SDK), developers can build mobile and multiscreen applications for smartphones and tablets, while maximizing design and development productivity.

ENGADGET: Adobe announces Air 2.5 for TVs, tablets and phones, launches Adobe InMarket to package apps

Salesforce.com has Force.com, a development platform that sits on top of its industrial-strength software-as-a-service infrastructure.

FORBES: Is Salesforce.com Wrong to Love Ruby?

The system provides a platform for continuous network improvement through the application of new and enhanced software development.

FORBES: GE Gobbles Up More of the Smart Grid

You are going to have companies that are not used to dealing with mobile technology, software development, application development, regulatory issues, security, and control, trying to scale an M2M platform on a global basis.

FORBES: What The Bears Are Missing About Research In Motion