The Department of Agriculture says computer ownership and usage among farmers increased over the last two years.

The Farm Computer Usage and Ownership report released last week updated numbers from 2017, as the report is compiled during odd-numbered years and released in August.

The new data shows 75 percent of farms reported having access to the internet, with 73 percent of farms having access to a desktop or laptop.

Over half of the farms in the United States used a smartphone or tablet to conduct farm business, compared to 44 percent in 2017.

In 2019, 26 percent of farms used satellite and 22 percent of farms used a Digital Subscriber Line, known as DSL, to access the internet.

Since 2017, Satellite and DSL continue to be the most popular choices that United States farms use to access the internet.

The 2019 computer usage estimates are based on responses from more than 20,000 agricultural operations, and represent all sizes and types of farms.