Will Farmers Use Computers for Resource and Environmental Management?

ABSTRACT:

Government, private agricultural advisors, and agribusinesses have developed a multitude of software programs to help producers better manage adverse environmental impacts and natural resource degradation. Little is known however about whether producers will use computers for these types of problems. We surveyed Great Plains producers to determine the prevailing adoption and use of computers for resource and environmental management. The survey uncovered serious concerns about producer willingness to use computer decision aids to address environmental or resource issues now or in the future. We also surveyed three farm-advisor groups about their roles in helping producers. In some cases, their responses indicated a distorted concept about priorities for farm and ranch computer use when compared to producer responses. The advancement of computer software use for environmental and resource management decision-making on farms or ranches remains limited unless required by the government, or until producers perceive a greater need for software to assist them in these areas.