(DLG). Research by DLG-Agrifuture Insights, the new knowledge brand and platform for international trend analysis in the agricultural sector from the German Agriculture Society, has revealed that Dutch farmers have been quick to embrace computer technology to assist in managing their businesses. This is supported by the level of smartphone use by agricultural professionals in the Netherlands; at more than 80 per cent, this is double that seen in Great Britain or France.
Russia, at more than 60 per cent, has the second highest use of smartphones in the countries surveyed, and Germany is third at a little less than 60 per cent. Meanwhile, about half of Polish farmers use a smartphone.
Dutch farmers again lead the field when it comes to downloading apps on their smartphones, with almost 80 per cent acknowledging their use. More than 60 per cent of French and German farmers use apps, along with more than 50 per cent of Russia and Polish farmers, but agricultural professional in Great Britain are most reluctant with fewer than 50 per cent downloading computer applications to use on their mobile handset.
Not surprisingly, business internet and e-mail use was high among the farmers questioned, with the Dutch considerably higher than the rest at about 93 per cent and 97 per cent respectively. The Russians showed the lowest use of the internet in their businesses at a little more than 60 per cent, while agricultural professionals from Poland were the most reluctant e-mail users with about 55 per cent take-up.
Russians lead in farm software use
The structure of modern Russian agriculture, where large, well-equipped farms are managed with input from consultants and other experts, help explain the figures showing the use of specialist software on the country's farms. About 66 per cent of farming professionals in Russia used farm management and decision support software, which was far above any of the other countries for those categories. And the same was true for using systems for communication with farm consultants. The only software category where the Russians didn't lead was for herd management systems, where Dutch farmers with their productive dairy and pig units led the way.
Otherwise, farm software has achieved a relatively disappointing level of penetration among the countries questioned, with take-up among Polish farmers particularly low. The figures for Great Britain are also relatively low and, apart from herd management software, which scores nearly 30 per cent, the same could be said for France.
Interestingly, the use of social networks was relatively low among the farming professionals that took part in this DLG-Agrifuture Insights survey. Even among the well-connected Dutch, less than 30 per cent acknowledged use of these networking tools. Farmers in Great Britain and France scored particularly poorly at about 10 per cent.
Insights into agricultural developments
Launched at the end of 2017, DLG-Agrifuture Insights replaces and extends the scope of the DLG's Trendmonitor Europe surveys. DLG-Agrifuture Insights provides its subscribers with greater understanding of the developments taking place in the world's most important agricultural regions at a time when the sector and its environment are changing rapidly, and technologies, markets and market relations, structures and processes are all in a state of transition.
The findings are reached by questioning a global panel made up of 2,000 future-oriented farmers, with surveys conducted every February/March in the southern hemisphere and every August/September in the northern hemisphere. The conclusions are supplemented by continuous background research and regular interviews with top decision-makers.
Attractive subscription model with DLG membership
A DLG-Agrifuture Insights subscription – in English or German – costs 1,900 euros per annum. This covers not only all country and trend reports, as well as background reports, but also DLG membership. This means subscribers also profit from DLG's global network of experts, the attractive offerings of the DLG trade fairs (famed as leaders in their field around the world), current professional events and expert publications, as well as sector-specific advanced training and educational opportunities.
Detailed information is available at: www.dlg.org/afi
