FARMING MATTERS: High speed broadband needed for farming families

With only four per cent of farmers having access to superfast broadband, the rollout of complete mobile networks and affordable reliable superfast broadband to rural areas must now be prioritised by government.

Both are essential to run safe and efficient farms, to comply with regulation which is increasingly only available online, to promote farm diversification and for rural communities to enjoy family life and the government need to put in place the funding, the legislation and business support to allow this to happen.

These are the findings of the National Farmers Union (NFU) in its report, Farm Broadband and Mobile Networks, which has been given to MPs and which picks up on results from a comprehensive survey of farmers and growers.

UK food and farming contributes £109 billion to the UK economy each year and many farmers have diversified to support the wider rural economy, but to do this efficiently they need high speed broadband.

NFU vice president Guy Smith said: “If our industry is to meet any of the ambitions of the long awaited government 25 year Food and Farming Plan, it will be essential for barriers to growth to be removed.”