A Closer Look at Farm Data Ownership

A number of agriculture technology providers (ATPs) worked together recently to produce a document identifying core industry principles for data privacy and security on the farm.  (Read the core principles document here:  Privacy and Security Principles for Farm Data).  One principle addressed ownership questions.  This principle is particularly important as it is the first step to resolving the often asked question:  “Who owns farm data?”  Although the answer to this question seems obvious to most people, the core principles document developed by industry stakeholders contains a more in-depth approach than merely concluding “the farmer owns the data.”

Privacy and Security Principles for Farm Data

A few people have asked me for a link to the farm data core principles document released by ag technology providers and industry trade organizations. Below is the entire document, which represents a collaboration of American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, Beck’s Hybrids, Dow AgroSciences LLC, DuPont Pioneer, John Deere, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, Raven Industries, The Climate Corporation, and USA Rice Federation.

Ag Industry Releases Core Principles for Farm Data Privacy

This past year some of America’s leaders in agricultural technology products worked together with American Farm Bureau Federation and industry trade organizations to come up with a set of core principles for data privacy. The principles identified should help these agriculture technology providers (ATPs) develop new privacy policies and ensure existing policies protect farmers’ privacy. Here is an abbreviated version of the of the core principles.

Farm Bureau Data Privacy Poll Produces Some Interesting Results

The American Farm Bureau Federation (Farm Bureau) recently polled over 2500 farmers about their concerns with data privacy and technology.  Over 1000 of those surveyed indicated that they already use “precision technologies” on their farm, including data analysis tools operated by off-farm companies.  These farmers expressed concerns over liability issues, off-farm usage by technology providers, and privacy.  This was not surprising, but still there were some interesting results.