IARN — Contrary to what many people might believe, agriculture is dependent on technology. Whether they’re tracking yields in real-time during harvest, mapping fields during planting season, or keeping livestock records in a digital workbook, farmers probably use technology more than the average person. However, many rural folks don’t have the same access to high-speed internet as rural areas. The USDA has noticed this discrepancy and is now working to bridge that gap.
U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the USDA is providing $759 million to bring high-speed internet access to people in rural and underserved areas. The funds will go to various projects to help improve internet access in 24 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, and Palau. Mitch Landrieu, White House senior adviser and President Biden’s Infrastructure Coordinator, said rural areas need better internet access for many reasons.
For more on this story visit the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network.
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
