High-speed broadband opens up opportunities for farmers

The EU-funded pilot project in Finland enables the farm's veterinarian to conduct a necropsy on the farm, helped by a pathologist who provides a diagnosis remotely, based on the findings and samples collected during the necropsy. File picture.

Digitalisation of agriculture has come a step closer, with the completion of the National Broadband Plan rollout in Co Longford and Kilkenny.

Broadband speeds of 500 megabits per second are now newly available to more than 28,000 premises in Cos Longford and Kilkenny.

More than 12,200 premises have already connected to the new network in the two counties.

The largest infrastructure project since rural electrification, the National Broadband Plan ensures that homes, farms, businesses and communities, no matter how remote, can access the same connectivity opportunities as those in our towns and cities.

Its fibre rollout delivers broadband to the more remote and rural parts of Ireland where commercial operators had no plans to deliver high-speed broadband.

It is expected that it will be completed in the other 24 counties later this year.

This will pave the way for digitalisation of EU agriculture, which is an essential part of the broader EU Digital Agenda and the Common Agricultural Policy, with hopes that digital transformation will promote competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience in agriculture.

But a recent EU-wide survey showed that while information technology and software tools are widely used by farmers, more expensive technologies specific to crop or livestock production have been less widely adopted.

Adoption is higher on the larger farms, and by those with better internet connectivity, and those with specialised training.

The survey in 2024 included interviews with 1,444 respondents in Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Lithuania, Hungary and Poland.

In each of Ireland, Lithuania and Hungary, there were between 90 and 128 respondents, and from 180 to 190 in the other member states.

For crop-specific technologies, Ireland had the highest non-adoption rate at 40%, and a moderate average number of technologies adopted, at 1.9.

Poland had the lowest proportion of non-adopters (4%), and the lowest average number of technologies adopted (1.3).

Germany and Ireland had high usage of forecast apps and digital field records.

Meanwhile, a Remote Digital Autopsy (RDA) service in Finland shows what is possible in connected rural communities.

This could be useful in Ireland also, for quick diagnoses of cattle illnesses, without transporting carcases to regional veterinary laboratories.

The EU-funded pilot project in Finland enables the farm's veterinarian to conduct a necropsy on the farm, helped by a pathologist who provides a diagnosis remotely, based on the findings and samples collected during the necropsy.

Quick and accurate diagnoses allow for timely interventions, and possibly reduced mortality, protecting farmer incomes and ensuring improved animal welfare.

The pilot project will create guidelines and training for farmers, veterinarians, and veterinary pathologists. Based on results, a final RDA model will be established.

In the future, RDA may be expanded to include other livestock.