Information technology on Iowa farms
By Paul Lasley, extension
sociologist, 515/2940937, plasley@iastate.edu
The Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll is an annual survey of farmers by Iowa State Uiversity to address major farm and rural issues. Part of the 1998 survey focused on information technology of Iowa farms.
In mid-February, questionnaires were mailed to a statewide random sample of 3,802 Iowa farm operators. Usable replies were received from 2,312 operators yielding a response rate of 61 percent.
As farming has become more dependent on information, farm households have adopted new communication technologies to communicate with the outside world. Table 1 shows the proportion of Iowa farm households with various communication technologies.
Table 1. Information technology on Iowa farms
|
Technology |
Yes |
No |
|
Touch tone phone |
93% |
7% |
|
VCR player |
91 |
9 |
|
Answering machine |
69 |
31 |
|
Cellular phone |
52 |
48 |
|
Personal computer |
49 |
51 |
|
Printer |
47 |
53 |
|
CD-ROM Player |
39 |
61 |
|
Rotary dial phone |
35 |
65 |
|
Satellite television dish |
32 |
68 |
|
Modem or e-mail capacity |
29 |
71 |
|
Internet/web access |
22 |
78 |
|
Cable television |
17 |
83 |
|
Facsimile (fax) machine |
16 |
84 |
|
Yield monitor on harvesting equipment |
13 |
87 |
|
Digital television disk |
12 |
88 |
|
Global position system (GPS) |
6 |
94 |
|
Pager |
5 |
95 |
Precision farming
For this survey, precision or site-specific farming was defined as a way of looking at farms, fields, or specific areas within fields through the use of information management systems. About three-fourths of the respondents were either somewhat or very familiar with precision farming; however, their personal level of interest was low. Nearly four out of ten indicated they were not interested in precision farming, which is reflected in the three-quarters that expressed no plans to adopt this technology.
|
Familiarity |
Percent |
|
Not familiar |
26 |
|
Somewhat familiar |
58 |
|
Very familiar |
16 |
|
|
|
|
Personal Interest |
Percent |
|
Not interested |
38 |
|
Somewhat interested |
51 |
|
Very interested |
11 |
|
|
|
|
Use or Intention to Use |
Percent |
|
Already using |
8 |
|
Plan to adopt in next 5 years |
16 |
|
No plans to adopt |
74 |
Factors related to adoption of precision farming
Producers were asked to indicate the importance of the following factors in their decision to adopt precision farming methods. Economic considerations appear to be dominant in adoption of precision farming. While higher profits were judged as the number one reason why producers are interested in precision farming, increased yields, better nutrient management, and reducing use of pesticides are strongly related to higher profits.
Table 2. Opinions about factors related to adoption of precision farming
|
Level
of Importance
|
|||
|
Low
|
Medium
|
High
|
|
|
Higher profits |
8% |
25% |
67% |
|
Increased yields |
7 |
33 |
59 |
|
Better nutrient management |
7 |
41 |
52 |
|
Reduce use of pesticides |
12 |
42 |
46 |
|
Less environmental damage (better stewardship) |
14 |
45 |
41 |
|
Being on the cutting edge of new technology |
28 |
46 |
26 |
|
Better timelines |
28 |
54 |
18 |
|
Recognition from neighbors and friends |
58 |
27 |
15 |