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Computer use increasing slowly on the farm

The latest numbers from USDA show 62 percent of U.S. farms now have internet access up from 59 percent in 2009. DSL is the most common hook-up with 38 percent of farms using it, 20 percent use wireless and 15 percent have satellite internet. Dial-up use dropped to 12 percent while cable access is used by 11 percent.

The National Ag Statistics Service reports 84 percent of farms with sales of $250,000 or more have access to a computer and 82 percent have internet access. 68 percent of farms with sales between $100,000 and $250,000 have computer access with 67 percent having internet access. Farms with sales between $10,000 and $100,000 have 63 percent with a computer with 60 percent having internet access.

67 percent of crop farmers have computers with 64 percent having internet access while 63 percent of livestock farms have computers with 60 percent having internet capability.

While most regions of the country have seen steady growth in the number of computers on farms, the North Central region has held steady since 2007 although internet access has increased in all regions.

Not a lot of farm business being conducted over the web, 14 percent of U.S. farmers say they purchase ag inputs over the internet while 12 percent say they market products via the web. 35 percent say they conduct business with non-agricultural websites.

Read the full Farm Computer Useage and Ownership report here: