Computer use in farm management: Empirical study of Puerto Rico's agriculture

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the variables that can predict computer adoption for farm management practices in Puerto Rico. Cross-sectional data of the year 2000 were collected from a representative sample of 439 farmers from all agricultural regions, from farms of all sizes and dedicated to various principal commodities. Computer use for farm management purposes was the dependent variable, whereas age and education level of farmers, farm size, farm record keeping, tenancy, principal commodity and farm gross income of the principal commodity were the independent variables. The logistic regression analysis indicated that the variables that can predict computer use for farm management at a 5% level of significance were age and educational level of farmers, farm size, gross income of the principal commodity and the principal commodity produced on the farm. The study showed that the agricultural business person who used computers had a higher level of education, a larger farm business, a higher gross income, and was younger. The type of principal commodity produced on the farm is a factor in computer use. Ornamental and dairy farms used the computer more often than other types of business.