Farmer sources and uses of information

Abstract

This research analyzes sources of information used to make farming decisions. The findings are based on 2,537 questionnaires returned by famers in Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, and the Southeast. Farmers were discriminating in their use of 15 sources of information for nine farm level decisions. Sources of information did not vary widely among types of farm, years of farming, and region. There were wide differences in the use of written versus personal/service information forms and between public and private providers. These differences suggest segments of the information market that might best be served by different providers.