The push for expanding rural broadband access has been recognized as a critical national objective, highlighted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s April 2019 report, “A Case for Rural Broadband.” The report underscores how the lack of internet connectivity in rural areas has hindered the adoption of advanced precision agriculture technologies, potentially costing the American economy up to $65 billion in annual benefits. Addressing this, the Biden administration announced in August 2023 that nearly $700 million in grants and loans would be allocated to enhance high-speed internet connections for rural businesses, farmers, and residents, signaling a significant move towards closing the digital divide.

In a groundbreaking partnership aimed at boosting rural internet connectivity, Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) revealed its collaboration with SpaceX to utilize the aerospace giant’s Starlink satellite network to provide satellite communications (SATCOM) service to the agricultural sector. This initiative marks a pioneering step in the industry, offering farmers grappling with connectivity issues the opportunity to leverage precision agriculture technologies. Deere asserts that this collaboration will enable farmers to operate more efficiently and sustainably, contributing significantly to the production of essential resources.

The SATCOM service aims to integrate satellite internet service and durable satellite terminals with new and existing agricultural machinery, facilitating advancements such as autonomy, real-time data exchange, remote diagnostics, and machine-to-machine communication. Aaron Wetzel, Vice President of production and precision ag production systems at John Deere, emphasized the critical nature of connectivity in enabling farmers to perform highly precise production tasks within limited timeframes.

Utilizing SpaceX’s Starlink, the initiative will involve installing Starlink terminals on compatible machinery and a 4G LTE JDLink modem to ensure connection with the John Deere Operations Center. Set to commence in a limited release in the U.S. and Brazil in the second half of 2024, this venture promises to transform the agricultural landscape by providing the much-needed technological support to enhance productivity and sustainability in rural farming practices.