Computers and farmers

Computers and farmers

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
Modern day farmers and ranchers increasingly rely on computers and other technological advances to help run their operations. That’s especially true for those in Oregon, according to the results of a new national survey. Results of the survey on computer usage confirm that Oregon farmers and ranchers are among the national leaders in several categories, enhancing the state’s reputation for being extremely tech savvy:

 

Steve Poland is information systems manager for the Oregon Department of Agriculture. “I think we see people using a tool that is very advantageous for them to use on a daily basis. The internet and access to the internet gives them that ability to do their business more efficiently and effectively. There are a lot of social media techniques out there today that they could use– Facebook, Twitter, all the social media. That’s ever changing, but those tools are probably out there that could help them do their job better. People are hooking up wirelessly. Before, they were in remote areas where they couldn’t get any type of connection. The best connection they had was dial-up. Now, we have wireless connections that give them respectable speeds and dial-ups are becoming a thing of the past. We’re seeing people getting away from using a laptop to using an iPad or some type of tablet device instead of using the traditional laptops or the traditional computers.”

 

While the survey shows that other states have made huge strides in farm computer usage, Oregon seems to have already reached a peak in recent years after being an early adopter of computer technology. The use of social media by farmers and ranchers, something that is certainly growing among Oregon farmers and ranchers:

 

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