Milk It First comprehensive site for farmers to find commodity news, forecasts, futures prices and other important industry information
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One of the first things that 90,000 of America's farmers doevery morning--after milking the cows, of course--is log on to TedFarnsworth's Web site, Farmbid.com. Launched last year,Farmbid.com is the first comprehensive site where farmers can findcommodity news, forecasts, futures prices, information about herbs,the latest jokes, as well as access to 20,000 products.
The site's main attraction, though, is its auctions, whichallow busy farmers to bid on equipment, tools, chemicals, seeds,veterinary drugs and even baby piglets without ever leaving thehomestead. Before long, farmers also will be able to learn aboutthe latest legislation, research sources of disaster relief, anddiscover whether a vendor has an item in stock and how quickly itcan be delivered.
With 70 percent of farmers between the ages of 25 and 45 loggingon to the Net, the time is ripe for a site like Farmbid.com, its37-year-old creator believes. "At one time, the most importantpiece of farm equipment was a tractor. Today, it's a laptop andthe Net," says Farnsworth, who operates the business from anoffice in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, along with 27 employees.
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