Rural America’s broadband use is surging as more precision ag tools come online, but that digital growth has a price. Data centers are moving into small towns and energy supplies are feeling the strain.
“If you look at some of the studies that have been done and the estimates around energy consumption, we are headed for a supply-demand imbalance in the energy complex because of AI in the not-too-distant future,” said Jeff Johnston, lead economist for digital infrastructure, CoBank.
Johnston says while there might be a lot of challenges ahead, he calls the whole process a big opportunity for rural America.
Related Stories
According to the USDA Outlook Board, margins could improve for producers depending on a decrease in cases of High-Path Avian Flu (HPAI).
Chaley Harney, Executive Director of the Montana Beef Council, and Jonna Jones, Director of Marketing for Wentana, LLC, say it’s a great time for both cattle producers and beef consumers to celebrate one of America’s favorite proteins.