The USDA reports 70% of U.S. farms have access to the Internet. That’s up 3% from 2013.
The most frequent method of access is DSL, at 30%, but that’s decreased with the greater availability of wireless and satellite connections, at 29% and 21%, respectively. 12% use a cable modem service, 3% use dial-up, and 5% use another type of service or are uncertain about access method.
73% of farms have access to a computer and 71% own or lease the computer they use. By sales class: 71% for $1,000 to $9,999 and 70% for $10,000 to $99,999, with 73% for $100,000 to $249,999 and 85% for $250,000 and above.
Nationally, 43% of operations conduct business using a computer, including 47% of crop producers and 39% of livestock producers. The most frequent form of use is conducting business with a non-agricultural website at 44%, followed by purchasing agricultural inputs at 19%. Other types include: marketing (16%); accessing USDA-NASS reports (10%), other USDA reports and services (17%), and other federal government websites (17%); conducting business with any USDA website (9%) and any other federal government website (7%).
The Western region of the U.S. has the highest rate of use at 48%, with the North Central at 46%, the Northeast at 45%, and the South at 36%.
Source: www.brownfieldagnews.com