The Government has to ensure every farming business can access next generation superfast broadband and complete mobile technology across the farm, the NFU said today.

The NFU has also asked Government to allow the full delivery of the Government’s agri-tech and Industrial Strategies and lay the foundations for fifth generation (5G) technology.

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In a response to the consultation on the future of telecoms infrastructure, the NFU has used evidence from its unique member survey to highlight the growing rural-urban divide.

In summer 2017 only nine per cent of farmers surveyed could confirm they receive broadband speeds of 24Mbps or more and only 15 per cent had a reliable outdoor phone signal across the farm.

NFU Vice President Guy Smith said: “It’s very frustrating for farmers who waste time everyday due to poor connections and cannot take advantage of on-farm technology. One member spent two and half hours trying to set up a banking service, thwarted by a broadband service that kept dropping out. Another explained how it was not possible to gain real time information from contractors and agronomists. A third could not contact their vet and a fourth explained wider rural services, such as their holiday and business letting services had been impacted. Visitors did not want to come to an unconnected countryside. Many NFU members had health and safety concerns.

“These services are integral to the future of our industry – worth £112 billion to the UK economy, employing 3.8 million people across the UK.”

Mr Smith also called on Government to use the telecommunications review to assess the true cost to business, consumers and to the public purse if services cannot be provided online.

He added: “Farm businesses are facing challenges and opportunities, which include increasing productivity while managing the environment and mitigating price volatility. Trade with other countries post-Brexit, both within and increasingly outside the EU, will be vital and farming businesses will expect the UK digital communications to be comparable and fit for purpose to compete in this global market.”

The survey found that nine out of 10 farmers (91%) say broadband is a must have service. However the majority felt the broadband speed they were able to receive was far from good enough to run their businesses.Unreliabe broadband was preventing farmers introducing further digital technology on their farms.

Also commenting on the government's recent announcement to introduce a universal service obligation (USO), giving people the right to request a broadband speed of at least 10Mps by 2020, CLA president Tim Breitmeyer said:

“This still leaves significant areas devoid of a fast connection, critical for many rural businesses.

“Getting connections to rural homes and businesses is complex and expensive but it is essential and a crucial part of establishing fairness and balance in the economy. That is why the USO of 10Mbps that we fought so hard for, is important not only to rural areas but to the whole country.”

He added: “It is not just imperative to get rural homes and businesses connected in the first place but also to ensure the service they receive keeps pace with demand and technological change.

“The USO must be enacted in law without delay. Once it is in force, we will press for it to be constantly updated to end the digital divide that has held back our economy for too long.”