NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — A new farm survey is challenging the idea that producers are resistant to adopting new technology.
Bushel’s State of the Farm report found that many farmers are willing to experiment with new tools on their operations, especially when they can first test how the technology performs. Head of Public Relations and Communications, Julia Eberhart, says the survey showed producers across all age groups are willing to test new technology.
“The number one leading answer, which is the number one most experiential, is, ‘I am willing to experiment with new technologies,’” Eberhart explains. “Over 40% of these farmers, all ages, flat out saying, ‘I’m willing to experiment with new technologies.’ And then you see the next 20% is, ‘I wanna see others maybe have some success first before I start using it.’ Farmers are not tech-averse. Everyone has this stereotype of tech-averse farmers, and year after year, our data proves that flat-out wrong, and it only continues to grow.”
Eberhart says many producers still want to test technology on a smaller scale before making larger investments across their farms.
“I’m willing to try new things, but it can’t cost me $30,000 to just try it and see if it works, right? There’s gotta be some way to be able to try that out,” she continues. “I’m not gonna try that on all my fields. I’m gonna just try it on a small one, but I’m willing to try. And then that, whatever it is, has to show value before doubling down again.”
The report also found that younger producers continue to play a larger role in farm decision-making, with nearly 40 percent of respondents now under 50.
