Jess Peterson
United States Cattlemen’s Association

I am a fifth generation rancher currently managing a cow-calf operation in eastern Montana.  I am also the director of government relations for the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, USCA.

I would like to share with you how broadband is positively affecting the cattle industry and what more needs to be done to expand broadband to ranchers, farmers and other rural Americans. 

Broadband technologies help ranchers access up-to-the minute information on important data, such as grain prices and the price of feeders and finished cattle, not to mention the weather.  This information allows us make better decisions about our daily operations and helps optimize our success rate.

One of the latest and exciting opportunities in the cattle business is the marketing and sale of cattle on online auctions over a broadband connection.  For example, my ranch markets our calves through the Frontier Stockyards Internet Sale: http://www.frontierstockyards.com .  During the early summer a   Frontier representative video tapes our calves at the ranch.  Next, the calves are advertised on the auction website leading up to the sale date.  Then, in late summer Frontier auctions the calves online via a broadband internet connection in real time to potential buyers anywhere in the country.  Online auctions have expanded the market for our calves from a local to national market. 

Online auctions could offer these benefits to more buyers and sellers of cattle if access to broadband internet was increased.  For this and other reasons, USCA is a vocal proponent urging Congress to expand broadband deployment throughout rural America.

Rural America could also benefit from distance learning via broadband.  In addition to saving rural Americans windshield time and gasoline, distance learning would allow them to put in a full day’s work and then attend night school via computers.  Distance learning will enable more young people to get advanced degrees while working long days at a farm or ranch.  U.S. agriculture will maintain its competitive edge if more young people can learn online.

USCA is especially pleased that Title VI of the 2008 Farm Bill includes provisions that will increase the availability of broadband service in rural America.  We feel strongly that in the face of the benefits noted above, and others, broadband deployment is necessary for ranchers in rural America.  USCA is seeking full congressional support, and that of the administration, for Title VI. 

Simply put, rural America needs more broadband, or the heartland of our nation will be left behind.