WASHINGTON DC (April 30, 2019) — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today unveiled a groundbreaking report, A Case for Rural Broadband: Insights on Rural Broadband Infrastructure and Next Generation Precision Agriculture Technologies (PDF, 2.5 MB). The report finds that deployment of both broadband e-Connectivity and Next Generation Precision Agriculture Technology on farms and ranches throughout the US could result in at least $47 billion in national economic benefits every year.
“Broadband and Next Generation Precision Agriculture are critical components for creating vital access to world-class resources, tools, and opportunity for America’s farmers, ranchers, foresters, and producers,” Sec Perdue said. “Under the leadership of President Trump, USDA is committed to doing our part to clear the way for nationwide broadband-connectivity that will allow the next generation of precision-agriculture technologies to thrive and expand.”
Download A Case for Rural Broadband: Insights on Rural Broadband Infrastructure and Next Generation Precision Agriculture Technologies. To see how Next Generation Precision Agriculture Technologies can work on farm and ranching operations, view the Connected Technologies infographic.
The report also finds that if broadband infrastructure and digital technologies at scale were available at a level that meets estimated producer demand, the US economy could realize benefits equivalent to nearly 18 percent of total agriculture-production. Of that 18 percent, more than one-third is dependent on broadband e-Connectivity, equivalent to at least $18 billion in annual economic benefits that only high-speed, reliable internet can provide.
For many years, USDA and the American agriculture industry have been actively researching the feasibility, usage, and potential upside of Next Generation Precision Agriculture technologies. Until now, though, the interdependency of these technologies and broadband e-Connectivity has not been evaluated. The report released today explores this symbiotic relationship and quantifies the potential economic benefit of broadband buildout and the complementary adoption of connected agriculture technologies. Going forward, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be engaged in multiple facets of infrastructure and technology deployment, including financing rural capital-investments and supporting producers who are exploring which Next Generation Precision Agriculture Technologies are best-suited to improve their operations and serve their customers.
In April 2017, President Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory, and policy-changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Sec Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local, and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. The Report identified Achieving e-Connectivity in Rural America as a cornerstone recommendation. The Administration has been executing this priority call to action through the American Broadband Initiative (ABI), which reflects rural-broadband build-out as one of President Trump’s directives to the Federal government. A Case for Rural Broadband: Insights on Rural Broadband Infrastructure and Next Generation Precision Agriculture Technologies opens the next chapter in the USDA’s response to this call-to-action.
To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity. In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic.
