News

Farm data might be going to unintended recipients

A University of Wisconsin researcher says farm data might be going to people that shouldn’t have it. 

Bill Oehmichan tells Brownfield a lot of farm data is being gathered by combines, milkers, drones, and other machines.  He says farmers may own the data, but it’s being shared to input providers, who in turn, might be selling the data. “What farmers don’t realize is when they hit that consent icon on their I-pad or on their I-phone, or whatever, they gave control of that data to whoever that data is going to, and they then can use it for other purposes.”

Oehmichan says he appreciates having data used to provide better products and services to farmers but sometimes, farm data is combined with other data and used against the farm, for example, in in real estate deals. “Creating what is known as predictive analytics, and we’re going to sell that predictive analytics to a hedge fund, and that hedge fund is going to go and compete against you for purchasing farmland.”

Oehmichan says most farmers don’t understand the long and complicated agreement they often approve with a tap on their mobile devices, and they need to read the agreement closely.

Oehmichan says Farm Bureau has taken a lead on ag data transparency, and some farmers have formed data cooperatives to manage data in the members’ best interests.

AUDIO: Bill Oehmichan discusses data transparency issues with Brownfield’s Larry Lee