Farm bureau leader explains concerns with technology

Blake Hurst
Blake Hurst
Missouri Farm Bureau President and American Farm Bureau Federation board member Blake Hurst testified yesterday on innovation and implication for agriculture, saying farmers want to use the technology available but also do not want their business information stolen or sold.

"The big data movement - -and the innovative technologies and analytics it yields -- could lead to at least as much change in agriculture as the Green Revolution and the adoption of biotechnology did," Hurst said. "Farmers are reporting higher yields, fewer inputs, more efficiency and higher profits thanks to technology. It's then up to farmers to determine whether the benefits outweigh the privacy and security risks associated with usage." 

Farmers' concerns should be resolved through private partnerships between them and businesses to address problems and find workable solutions. When farmers and businesses work together, committee can expand their return on investment and unlock the power of agricultural data.

“If we rely on the government to make changes, the undue overhead might irreversibly deter innovation,” Hurst said.
   
The American Farm Bureau Federation and its partners are seeking a way to work with other industry players to agree upon a set of principles to govern data privacy and security.