Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network: United Soybean Board Study Focuses on Rural Broadband

Photo Credit: Joseph L. Murphy/Iowa Soybean Association

The United Soybean Board is working to identify solutions to demonstrate that the closing of current broadband gaps would increase agriculture’s productivity and sustainability.

A rural broadband study by USB found that nearly 60% of U.S. farmers and ranchers do not believe they have adequate internet connectivity to run their businesses. Northwest Iowa farmer and USB director Tom Oswald shared some findings and information about the study, as well as his experiences with rural broadband.

The productivity of farmers contributes nearly $133 billion to U.S. gross domestic product, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. Oswald says that means farms that contribute nearly $80 billion to GDP run on limited internet connections.

Learn more about rural broadband and the United Soybean Board here.