More U.S.farmers have access to Internet

WASHINGTON – A total of 48 percent of U.S. farms now have Internet access, compared to 43 percent with Internet access in 2001.

Two-year differences. Fifty-eight percent of farms have access to a computer in 2003, compared to the 2001 level of 55 percent. Fifty-four percent of all U.S. farms own or lease a computer, up from 50 percent in 2001.

Farms using computers for their farm business increased from 29 percent in 2001 to 30 percent in 2003.

It appears that computer usage, ownership and Internet access on farms have begun to level off.

In 2003, 82 percent of U.S. farms with sales and government payments of $250,000 or more have access to a computer, 79 percent own or lease a computer, 67 percent are using a computer for their farm business, and 72 percent have Internet access.

Numbers. For farms with sales and government payments between $100,000 and $249,999, the figures are: 70 percent have access to a computer, 66 percent own or lease a computer, 49 percent are using a computer for their farm business, and 54 percent have Internet access.

For farms with sales and government payments between $10,000 and $99,999, there were 57 percent that reported having computer access, 52 percent own or lease a computer, 32 percent use a computer for their farm business, and 47 percent have Internet access.