A group of Australian farmers is being given special access to the Internet to test its value in rural areas. According to The Age, Melbourne, Farmwide On-line service has provided 1,000 farmers across Australia with high-speed modems and Internet access at $5 an hour. Australian transport minister John Sharp, who launched the pilot scheme, said computer ownership by farmers had doubled over the past 12 months. Farmers are taking up computers faster than any other sector of industry. They need quick and reliable access to information on markets, weather, and areas specific to their industry, and are turning more and more to modern technology to satisfy those needs.
