Eighty-two percent of Minnesota farms have internet access, up 4 percentage points from 2017, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service “Farm Computer Usage and Ownership” report that includes data on connectivity.

The most common methods of accessing the internet are DSL, mobile and satellite connections, with 23% of Minnesota farms having access to the internet by utilizing all three.

Mobile connection had the largest increase, up 4 percentage points from 2017. DSL, the most common method of access in 2017, declined 2 percentage points from 2017.

Seventy-five percent of Minnesota farms own or lease a computer, 6 percentage points higher than the U.S. percentage, according to the report.

Seventy-eight percent of Minnesota farms report having access to a computer, up 1 percentage point from 2017. Farms using computers for their farm business increased to 59%, 10 percentage points above the national percentage, which rose to 49%.

Across the U.S., internet access and general computer usage categories increased from 2017 to 2019.

In 2019, 26% of farms used satellite and 22% of farms used DSL to access the internet.

Since 2017, satellite and DSL continue to be the most popular choices that farms use to access the internet.

Nationally, 75% of farms reported having access to the internet, with 73% of farms having access to a desktop or laptop computer. Farms that used a desktop or laptop computer to conduct farm business was up 1 percentage point from 2017.

Over half of the farms in the U.S. used a smart phone or tablet to conduct farm business, compared to 44% in 2017.

Source: NASS Minnesota Field Office, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.