Episode 021: Quantifying Connectivity Challenges

It's widely known that rural connectivity is a major problem for rural residents and for the progression of digital agriculture technologies. But how big of an issue is it? Keenan McRoberts, Ph.D., Vice President of Science and Program Strategy for the United Soybean Board joins this episode of the FarmBits podcast to discuss the outcomes of a 2018 study titled "Rural Broadband and the American Farmer: Connectivity Challenges Limit Agriculture's Economic Impact and Sustainability." As Keenan will discuss in this episode, the United Soybean Board views their investment in this study and the rural broadband initiative in general as catalytic in nature. The information provided in this study and through ongoing investments by the United Soybean Board are intended to enable better decision making, public-private partnerships, and effective investments in rural connectivity. There is still much to be done to achieve the connected future that many in the agricultural industry believe is possible and the United Soybean Board is committed to playing a significant role in building that connected future. Resources: USB Rural Broadband Study: https://api.unitedsoybean.org/uploads/documents/58546-1-ruralbroadband-whitepages-final.pdf USB Rural Broadband Information: https://www.unitedsoybean.org/media-center/issue-briefs/rural-broadband/ Rural Broadband in America: https://www.unitedsoybean.org/article/rural-broadband-in-america United Soybean Board: Website: https://www.unitedsoybean.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/UnitedSoy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnitedSoybeanBoard YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/unitedsoybean/ Keenan's Contact Info: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keenan-mcroberts-a11611a/ FarmBits Team Contact Info: E-Mail: farmbits@unl.edu Twitter: https://twitter.com/NEDigitalAg Samantha's Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamanthaTeten Jackson's Twitter: https://twitter.com/jstansell87 Opinions expressed by the hosts and guests on this podcast are solely their own, and do not reflect the views of Nebraska Extension or the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.