For years Jack Geller did surveys of broadband adoption in Minnesota. I remember the first time he noted that broadband had made a significant shift in everyday life. Broadband always saved time. You could do more faster but starting in about 2006, people were not only doing things faster, they were doing things differently. Broadband was changing how we were doing things.

The Daily Yonder published an article this week that takes take a look at technology and farming. It reminded me of Jack’s assessment because the article outlines how technology is really changing how people farm and really how farmers live…

They know the weather…

Then I got DTN. Back then, DTN stood for Data Transmission Network, and it came to my farm wirelessly via an FM signal. For the first time ever I could look at up-to-date forecasts and weather radar any time of the day or night. I could check grain and livestock markets too. And there was farm news. Everything on those early DTN screens was an amber, mono color with intensity of storm clouds portrayed as numbers on an outline map – 1 was sprinkles, 5 meant head for the hills.

They keep in touch…

These days email isn’t just something that happens late evening or early mornings at home on my computer. I can talk to friends or business contacts from my tractor cab, the grain truck or my favorite recliner. I can check grain and livestock markets or the stock market anytime. Or look at weather radar via DTN Mobile.

The lines blur between the workday and home life – much like they have for everyone – but in a job where the hours are long and the location remote, keeping connected has changed opportunities.