Montana farms and ranches that have Internet access reached 70 percent in 2005, the second highest percentage in the Nation

Montana farms and ranches that have Internet access reached 70
percent in 2005, the second highest percentage in the Nation according
to the Montana Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics
Service.

The 70 percent with Internet access in 2005 compares with 63
percent in 2003, 57 percent in 2001 and
38 percent in 1999. Seventy-five percent of farms and ranches had
access to a computer in 2005, third highest nationally, compared with 72
percent two years ago and 71 percent in 2001. Seventy-three percent of
all Montana farms and ranches own or lease a computer, up from 70
percent in 2003. Farms and ranches using computers for their
agricultural business decreased four percent from 2003 to 40 percent in
2005.

Farm computer usage numbers are also published by regions. Montana
is included with Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New
Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. In 2005, 69 percent of the
farms and ranches in this region have access to a computer, 66 percent
own or lease a computer; 36 percent are using a computer for their
agricultural business; and 62 percent have Internet access. Computer
access for crop farms in the region decreased two points to 67 percent.
The percentage of crop farms having Internet access remains the same at
59 percent. The percentage of livestock producers in the region that had
access to computers increased to 71 percent, compared with 70 percent
two years ago. Sixty-four percent of the livestock producers in the
region have Internet access, compared with 60 percent in 2003.

Fifty-one percent of U.S. farms now have Internet access, compared
to 48 percent with Internet access in 2003. Fifty-eight percent of farms
have access to a computer in 2005, the same level as 2003. Fifty-five
percent of all U.S.
farms own or lease a computer, up slightly from 54 percent in 2003.
Farms using computers for their farm business increased 1 percent from
2003 to 31 percent in 2005.

For crop farms, in the U.S. 60 percent have computer access and 33
percent use a computer for their farm business in 2005, the same as
2003.
Internet access for crop farms has increased to 52 percent in 2005
compared to
49 percent in 2003. For livestock farms, 57 percent have computer access
and 48 percent have Internet access, both up 1 percent from 2003. The
use of a computer for farm business has increased to 29 percent for
livestock farms, up 2 percent from 2003.

In 2005, 12 percent of the U.S. farms access Federal Government Web
sites other than USDA, compared to 11 percent in 2003. Four percent of
farms conduct business with a USDA Web site, up from 3 percent in 2003.
Farms conducting business with any other Federal Government Web site
dropped from 5 percent in
2003 to 3 percent in 2005. Also, 5 percent of the farms used a toll-free
customer service number during the July 2004 to June 2005 period.

Two new questions were asked in 2005, including how operators
access the Internet. Dialup was the most common method of accessing the
Internet with 69 percent of U.S. farms. Operators were also asked if
they conducted any non-agricultural business via the Internet in the
last 12 months and 26 percent of the U.S. farms responded yes.

MONTANA AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE

10 W. 15th Street, Suite 3100

Internet:
http://www.nass.usda.gov/mt/

Helena, Montana 59626

E-mail: [email protected]

For more information contact:
Christel Pachl or Peggy Stringer at 1-800-835-2612 or (406)441-1240

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(Many thanks to Elizabeth Ching of Sen. Baucus’ staff for passing this along. Russ)

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More farmers are using computers, but pace slowing

By Roxana Hegeman, The Associated Press

American farmers are buying computers and using them for business, but at a much slower pace than they did just two years ago, a new federal study shows.

The rate for both computer ownership and business usage increased just 1% from 2003 to 2005, according to a survey conducted every two years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"It appears that computer usage, ownership, and Internet access on farms are leveling off," the report, released Friday, said.

Of more than 32,400 farms of all kinds and types surveyed by the USDA’s National Statistics Service, 55% own or lease a computer — up slightly from 54% in 2003 — and 31% use it in their operations.

About 51% have Internet access, compared with 48% in 2003.

Full Story: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2005-08-01-farmers-computers_x.htm