50 is the New 40

Fargo-based Bushel is out with its annual State of the Farm Report. Bushel CEO Jake Joraanstad highlightied this research at the Bloomberg Farm, Food, and Fuel Conference in Indianapolis Tuesday. Joraanstad says 50 years of age is the tipping point for technology adoption. “The trend line is very clear that 50 and under is seeing massive adoption of technology. (They’re) willing to use it on the farm, expecting it in their business, and expecting that if you’re a retailer, a co-op, or a grain company, you need to meet these farmers where they’re at, and that’s technology for anybody under 50.” More than 1,300 farmers were surveyed for this study. It found that face-to-face relationships are still extremely important to farmers. More recordkeeping is being done with some form of farm management software. The use of digital tools is also growing. “People are pretty fed up with the paper check.” Despite economic uncertainty, the Bushel study found farmers remain optimistic. Thirty-five percent plan to grow their businesses and only 15 percent are planning to scale down or quit farming. The State of the Farm Report is available online.