USDA: Agriculture broadband access, new technology could be economic boon
Courtesy / USDA
Better broadband connectivity for farms and ranches, allowing greater use of new generation precision agriculture technology could mean billions more for the industry yearly, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday.
Better broadband access that would allow farmers and rangers to take greater advantage of next generation precision agriculture technology could result in $47 billion to $65 billion a year in economic benefits nationally, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report released Tuesday.
“Broadband and Next Generation Precision Agriculture are critical components for creating vital access to world-class resources, tools and opportunity for America’s farmers, ranchers, foresters and producers,” Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said in a news release that accompanied the report.
Next generation precision agriculture technology includes everything from collecting data on production and markets, to GPS on combines, to image recognition diagnostics for livestock. New technology plays a part in planning, production and market coordination, but high-speed connectivity is necessary to take advantage of it.
The report found that if broadband infrastructure and digital technology were available at a level that meets estimated producer demand, the U.S. economy could realize benefits equivalent to nearly 18% of total agriculture production. Of that 18%, more than one-third is dependent on broadband connectivity, equivalent to at least $18 billion in annual economic benefits that only high-speed, reliable internet can provide, the release said.
The USDA and the American agriculture industry have been actively researching the feasibility, use and potential upside of next generation precision agriculture technology for many years, but have not evaluated the technology in conjunction with broadband connectivity, the report said.
As more farmers and ranchers are connected, next generation precision agriculture is being applied more frequently across the food chain.
"The concept of 'precision' in agriculture is not new, and practices called precision agriculture have always included infield processes aimed for more accurate planting, nutrient and pest management, and harvesting," the report said. "Yet, until recently, precision agriculture lacked data collection and analysis that is enabled by 21st century technologies and internet connectivity. This next generation of technologies will continue to evolve, building innovation and ingenuity into this vital American industry."
The USDA will be engaged in multiple facets of infrastructure and technology deployment, including financing rural capital investments and supporting producers who are exploring which next generation precision technologies are best suited to improve their operations and serve their customers, the report said.
The Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity was formed two years ago to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. Greater broadband connectivity in rural areas was a "cornerstone" finding of the 31 findings that resulted from that task force. The findings of this week's report are the next step in that effort, the release said.
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