Rural Broadband and the American Farmer

For agriculture, slow, unreliable internet is the norm. Like any business managers in the US, farmers rely on internet connections in their offices. However, with today’s technology, they also need connectivity in their fields. American farmers get online for everything from market and weather information to banking and need connectivity to process soil fertility data, use autosteer and much more. The study found that nearly 60% of U.S. farmers and ranchers do not believe they have adequate internet connectivity to run their businesses. Slow, unreliable internet connection is common, regardless of connection type and location. The study investigated fixed, satellite, cellular and hotspot connections and found that farmers do not agree that their internet access provides value for the cost either in their offices (65%) or in their fields (77%). And because their farms can’t move, 78% do not have another viable option to change service providers. The study also found that most farmers plan on (59%) or are considering (28%) incorporating more data into making day-to-day decisions within the next year. These daily decisions support their economic and environmental sustainability. However, they face internet-related barriers, including slow speeds (21%), costs (20%), reliability (16%) and lack of access (15%). In the 18 months before being surveyed, nearly one-third said internet connectivity has impacted purchase decisions to upgrade farm equipment.