Steve Larocque will have internet access in his tractor for the first time this spring.
The Three Hills, Alta., farmer and consultant doesn’t think he’ll browse the internet while driving over fields, but he needs the technology for his controlled traffic farming.
Having good access to the internet in a tractor, truck or home is becoming almost mandatory for farmers who are trying to stay on top of market prices, order fertilizer or check their e-mail.
Farmers are turning to devices like the small mobile internet sticks that can be plugged into a computer for internet access through cellphone towers.
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If a farmer can get cellphone coverage, he can get the internet.
In this first year, Larocque thinks he will use the technology to run his controlled traffic farming and won’t use it to browse the internet.
“There’s too much going on,” he said.
Rob Saik of Agri-Trend, a farm consulting company, said his business needs internet access 24 hours a day, either in the field, on the highway or in a client’s house.
Since 2000, Saik’s been using portable internet devices to run his consulting business.
“It allows me to access the internet from wherever I am,” said Saik. “It’s one of the ways we access the internet.”
Internet access from the tractor or the home provides farmers with field information.
Many of Saik’s customers keep their field and agronomy information on the Agri-Trend website.
Mobile internet devices enable farmers to look at their field information and order fertilizer, or sell their crop from the cab of their combine or tractor.
“He can literally access his farm production records.”
Another of Saik’s clients can’t put wired internet access in his dairy barn, but can get it with the mobile internet stick.
“We are seeing a lot farmers using these. They are a practical way for them to access the internet.
“I think if a farmer doesn’t have high speed access to the farm, these mobile devices are a real good option.”
Andre Lacoursiere of 2nd Opinion Consulting of Vulcan, Alta., said the mobile devices give him the ability to access the internet when he travels.
“I don’t leave home without it, to be honest,” he said.
Internet access in a tractor cab allows farmers to get the latest information on grain marketing or update variable rate maps via mobile internet devices, said Lacoursiere.
“You can keep informed during the day.”
Like it or not, technology is forcing farmers to adopt change with each new piece of equipment.
“The stick is just another add-on.
“This whole game is changing rapidly. Two years ago I never thought I’d be handing out data card sticks,” he said.
