National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA
Washington, D.C.
July 30,  2001

A total of 43 percent of U.S. Farms now have Internet access, compared to 29 percent with Internet access in 1999. Nearly 55 percent of farms have access to a computer in 2001, compared to the 1999 level of 47 percent. Fifty percent of all U.S. farms own or lease a computer, up from 40
percent in 1999. Farms using computers for their farm business increased from 24 percent in 1999 to 29 percent in 2001.

In 2001, 73 percent of U.S. farms with sales of $100,000 and more have access to a computer, 69 percent own or lease a computer, 55 percent are using a computer for their farm business, and 58 percent have Internet access. For farms with sales between $10,000 and $99,999 the figures are: 53 percent have access to a computer, 47 percent own or lease a computer, 30 percent are using a computer for their farm business, and 39 percent have Internet access. For Farms with sales less than $10,000, 50 percent report having computer access, 45 percent own or lease a
computer, 20 percent use a computer for their farm business, and 40 percent have Internet access.

In 2001, operators with access to the Internet were asked four additional questions on their specific uses of the Internet access. The additional Internet questions referred to the purchase of agricultural inputs, conducting agricultural marketing activities, accessing National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reports, and accessing other USDA reports and research information. Of the U.S. farms with Internet access, 6 percent use the Internet to purchase agricultural inputs, to
conduct agricultural marketing activities and to access NASS reports while 9 percent access other USDA reports and research information.

Survey Procedures:
The June Agricultural Survey is conducted every year to provide estimates of farm numbers and land in farms, crop acres planted, grain in storage, livestock inventories, and land values. In 1997, 1999, and again in 2001, questions were added to the survey form that asked the operator about access and use of computers. The 2001 computer usage estimates are based on responses from over 32,500 agricultural operations and represent all sizes and types of farms.
Coefficients of Variations (CVs) at the national level in 2001 were 1 percent or less, at the regional level, CVs ranged from 1 to 5 percent, and at the State level CVs generally ranged from 3 to 30 percent.

To see the full report with complete statistics, go to http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/ and enter Farm Computer Usage and Ownership as keyword.

USDA news release
N3710