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Over 40% of US farms have Internet access
By Cheryl Rainford, agriculture online
August 17, 2001
 
Computer and Internet use in the ag community continues to grow. A total of 43% of US farms now have Internet access, compared with just 29% in 1999, according to a special report released by National Agricultural Statistics Service this afternoon.

Nearly 55% of farms now have access to a computer, continuing an upward trend from 47% in 1999.

Large farms, defined as those with $100,000 or more in annual income, are really pulling away from the pack. A whopping 73% now say they have access to computers and 58% say they have Internet access.

Interestingly, small and medium-sized farms are roughly comparable to one another in terms of computer usage and Internet access. They are wired to a dramatically lesser extent than the larger farms.

For farms with sales between $10,000 and $99,999:
  • 53% have access to a computer
  • 47% own or lease a computer
  • 30% use a computer for their farm business, and
  • 39% have Internet access


For farms with sales less than $10,000:
  • 50% have access to a computer
  • 45% own or lease a computer
  • 20% use a computer for their farm business, and
  • 40% have Internet access


Of all the farms with Internet access, 6% say they use the Internet to purchase agricultural inputs, to conduct agricultural marketing activities and to access NASS reports while 9% access other USDA reports and research information.

Overall, farms using computers for their farm business increased from 24% in 1999 to 29% in 2001.

Where do the most wired farmers live? Idaho and Oregon, with 62% and 59% online respectively. Farmers in the West tend to be the most wired, while southern farmers have the most ground to make up.

Kentucky, for example, seems to be fighting a losing battle with adoption of new technologies. In that state, just 17% of farms are online and 28% have access to a computer.

Who is buying inputs online? Farmers in Florida, New Hampshire and New York mostly. Ten percent of farmers in each of those states say they make online purchases.