Farmers, computers and the Internet
Washington Ag Today August 29, 2011 A new survey from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service shows that 47 percent of Washington farmers use a computer for farm business. That is actually down three percent from 2009 but above the current national average. Hawks: “Thirty-seven percent of the farmers are using the computer for their farm business.” That’s Dale Hawks with the National Agricultural Statistics Service who was involved in the survey work. As to farmers and internet access nationally; Hawks: “In 2011 up to 62% of U.S. farmers had internet access.” But in Washington up to 76 percent of farmers have internet access although that too is down from 2009 by one percent. The use of dial-up by farmers to connect to the internet continues to drop in Washington. That’s down to 12 percent. The use of cable has grown and is now at 17 percent, but the most common method of access for Washington farmers is DSL at 32 percent. Want to learn how to make cider? The Northwest Agriculture Business Center in cooperation with Washington State University Northwest Research and Extension in Mt. Vernon, is bringing in internationally recognized cider production expert Peter Mitchell to lead an intensive weeklong class in cider and perry production. That course will run daily December 12th through the 16th at the WSU Center in Mt. Vernon. You can register and find out more at
I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net. ?
