MMM 357September 15, 1997

Farmers Surfing the Web

J. W. Jordan, Extension Ag. Economist



South Carolina farmers are not riding the crest of the Internet wave. Only 9 percent have Internet access. Five other states have a lower percentage. The range is from 4 percent in Louisiana to 31 percent in New Jersey with an average of 13 percent nationally.

How fast are farmers joining the electronic technology age? According to a survey conducted by the National Agricultural Statistics Service(NASS), 31 percent of U.S. farmers own or lease computers compared to 20 percent in SC.

How are farmers using these new fangled machines? The survey did not get very detailed information on computer usage but they did find that 11 percent of SC farmers used their computers for business purposes compared to 20% nationally. I would guess that most of that is keeping financial records on such software programs as Quicken. Also, farmers are starting to use the computer to keep field records including information on chemical utilization, which is required by law. A few are on the cutting edge with the utilization of field mapping via the satellite GPS and the GIS systems.

Which geographic area has the most computer nuts? As you probably could guess farmers (or should I say ranchers) in the far western states had the most computers(48%). The southern states still being fairly traditional had the fewest computers with 24%.

What size and type farms are learning bytes and bites? As you would expect the larger the farm the more machines, 54% of U.S. farms with over $100,000 of income have computers compared to about 25% for smaller farms. Nationally crop farms had more computers than livestock farms by a 34% to 28% margin.

SUMMARY

Computer use is increasing down on the farm and I believe it will grow more rapidly in the future. We are experiencing more interest in computer software and hardware educational programs conducted by the Extension Service, mostly related to financial records. As software and hardware continues to become less expensive and more user friendly, farmers will find that surfing the Internet wave will be a more fun and profitable sport. So hack away!








THE CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE OFFERS ITS PROGRAMS TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, SEX, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, OR HANDICAP AND IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION WORK IN AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS--STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, CLEMSON UNIVERSITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTIES COOPERATING.

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updated 9/15/97