April 19, 2005
US Farmers turn to cell phones
Main's CBS4 News reports that Nationwide, a recent survey by "Successful Farming Magazine showed that more than 75 percent of U.S. farmers have cell phones. That's 10 percent higher than the population as a whole.
"Rural farming communities historically have been plagued with spotty cell phone coverage. But coverage has improved as more cell towers have been erected, said James Holmes, sales director for U.S. Cellular in New England."
"Farmers used to purchase cell phones primarily for emergencies,"Holmes said. "That's changed now that minutes are less expensive and data services have become available. Today most of the calls our farming customers make are to get a ride back to the farm after dropping off their tractor in the field."
Farmers are also using cell phones to conduct business while they're in the fields, Holmes added.
Picture from Nader & the Greens.
The Permanent Link to this page is: http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2005/04/007983.htm
