Digital divides and the adoption of information and communication technologies in the UK farm sector

For farm businesses operating in remote rural areas, internet-based technologies offer the prospect of overcoming disadvantages relative to urban areas, particularly those related to spatial and social isolation. Using empirical data, this article contends that a "digital divide" exists within the agricultural sector between relatively small cattle and sheep farmers and larger-scale arable and dairy farms, which will result in uneven take-up of new communication media, loss of competitiveness and increasing relative disadvantage for those businesses affected. Arguing that this disadvantage will be serious for both individual businesses and the industry, the article identifies the development of human potential as a priority.