According to a recent study on rural broadband and farming, 60% of farmers said they don’t have enough connectivity to run their businesses.
Here are some of the findings from the study, which was funded by the United Soybean Board:
- 78% of farmers do not have a choice in internet service providers.
- 60% of farmers say the internet service they do have is slow, with most relying on cell signals or hotspots to connect to the internet.
- 40% of farmers have a fixed internet connection, while others rely on satellite connections.
- In the 18 months before being surveyed, nearly one-third of farmers said internet connectivity has impacted purchase decisions to upgrade farm equipment.
- 67% of farmers believe it is at least moderately important to be able to transfer data wirelessly from the field.
- Only 32% percent of farmers consider their office internet reliable.
- 59 % of farmers want to incorporate more data in their operation, but lack the connectivity to do so.
The survey was conducted first by online and mail-in surveys, which received more than 2,000 responses. Among participants, 86 percent grow field or row crops such as corn and soybeans, 21 percent grow specialty crops like fruits and vegetables, and 55 percent raise livestock. Researchers also conducted in-depth telephone interviews with participants in eight states in July and August of 2019.
(This report first ran on The Rural Blog, a digest published by the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky.)
