Internet Options for Rural Farmers and Ranchers

"USDA has announced two billion dollars invested”

to date, in projects that will create or improve high-speed internet access for rural customers. (Source: USDA Rural Development)

What's top of mind for farm prosperity?

Rural Internet Connectivity

22.3%.

That's how many Americans in rural areas lack coverage from earth-based broadband internet. And that number increases to 27.7% for Americans in Tribal regions. Compare that to only 1.5% of Americans in urban areas, and you can see how internet connection in rural areas is a pressing issue.*

‍Why's the internet so slow on my farm?

‍Internet speeds are highest through cable modems, powerlines, 5G (fixed wireless) and fiber connections. Unfortunately, most rural areas aren't well connected to this type of broadband internet.

Internet or internot?

‍Access to high-speed internet is often underfunded in our rural communities and slow loading times lead to slower productivity - which in turn, can lead to lower profits. What's more, if you live in a rural area you'll probably have fewer choices when it comes to Wireless Internet Services Providers (WISPs). So, this week’s checklist is about rural broadband access.

‍*Source: Federal Communications Commission

‍

This Week's Prosperity Checklist: Improve Your Internet Connectivity

1. Learn: What even is broadband?

• Broadband generally refers to high-speed internet access and can refer to many different types of transmission including by satellite, power lines and cable modems, among others.
• The FCC reports that “wireless” broadband providers are often used in rural areas instead, including thousands of small WISPs.
• Satellite-delivered broadband (think: Elon Musk’s Starlink) is also a promising solution for many rural Americans. Satellite broadband speeds aren’t the fastest out there, but they are about 10 times faster than the download speed with dial-up Internet access. One concern with satellite-provided connections is that service can be disrupted in extreme weather conditions.

2. Discover public initiatives and get connected

• Through the ReConnect program, the USDA’s Rural Development agency has invested close to $2B. The program offers loans and grants toward the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas.
• You can look through the target service areas for the program, review proposed applications, or view all previously issued award using the Rural Development program’s ReConnect project map. Do any of the projects impact your geography?

3. Find publicly available WiFi through the American Connection Project (ACP) or sign up for Starlink

• Land O’Lakes initiated the “American Connection Project” to tackle rural broadband access issues. Through this project, Land O’Lakes and its partners are raising awareness and supporting initiatives that expand rural broadband access. They even keep an updated map for you to find publicly available WiFi if you lack access at home.
• Starlink offers satellite-delivered internet across many service locations now. You can see if you’re eligible and order Starlink today.
• Start budgeting: It’s $2,500 for the hardware and then $500 per month for internet access. And, if any of you are coders, you might try hacking Starlink’s system to earn an extra $25,000. 💰

4. Remember that you're in good company: Most farmers in rural areas face connectivity challenges

Farmraise's very own Farmer Success Associate, Nick Tyre, works on a farm in rural North Carolina and said: “Transitioning from farmer's market to online sales during the pandemic would have been impossible without internet access.”

Many of the farmers we help have weighed in about the challenges they face, with many saying they’re on the waitlist for access to better technologies like Starlink:

• “Previously with the tech infrastructure in the rural area even phone calls were difficult.”
• “Elon Musk is setting up satellites everywhere in rural areas, you have to sign up - it’s really going to make a difference for farmers.”

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See If You're Eligible for Public WiFi

According to the ACP, 42 million Americans lack access to high-speed broadband. High-speed internet access is critical for rural farmers and ranchers. It enables the adoption of precision agriculture technologies, assists farmers in improving their sales and marketing efforts using internet-based strategies and supports farming families in access quality remote education.

GET CONNECTED ▹

This week's survey results are in:

According to our survey, a lot of FarmRaise farmers have reliable internet. But at least 36% could benefit from better coverage. Remember that more reliable and secure your internet, the quicker and more productive you can be. That's a recipe for farm prosperity!

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