Posted November 14, 2014
U.S. farm organizations and agriculture technology providers (ATPs) have reached an agreement on data privacy and security principles that will “encourage the use and development of a full range of innovative, technology-driven tools and services to boost the productivity, efficiency and profitability of American agriculture,” according to an American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) release available here. The Wall Street Journal also published an article available hereand Agri-Pulse here.
“The principles released today provide a measure of needed certainty to farmers regarding the protection of their data,” said Bob Stallman, president of AFBF. “Farmers using these technology-driven tools will help feed a growing world while also providing quantifiable environmental benefits. These principles are meant to be inclusive and we hope other farm organizations and ATPs join this collaborative effort in protecting farm-level data as well as educating farmers about this revolutionary technology.”
A data-driven farming approach has increased farmers’ production and reduced financial costs, but some farmers are still concerned about the safety of their information, according to The Wall Street Journal.
AFBF has warned farmers that seed companies may influence farmers to purchase more seeds or direct farmers to purchase particular equipment.
Farmers will send large amounts of business and production information to ATPs concerning their planting, production, and harvesting practices. Companies utilize that data to produce “field prescriptions and benchmarks that provide valuable information farmers can use to make decisions on when, how and which crop varieties to plant, and optimize the application of crop protection and fertilizer inputs,” according to Agri-Pulse.
Other groups or companies supporting the principles are: American Soybean Association, Beck’s Hybrids, Dow AgroSciences LLC, DuPont Pioneer, John Deere, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, Raven Industries, The Climate Corporation – a division of Monsanto, and USA Rice Federation.
For more information, a copy of the data privacy and security principles agreement is available here.
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