Fields of connectivity

Research on the effects of ICTs on social relations in agricultural communities remains scant, even though agriculture is currently undergoing profound demographic, social, economic and professional changes. In this article we present results from a comparison of data from two studies analysing, respectively, egocentric networks in the general population and, more specifically, among farm managers. The objective is twofold: to examine the everyday social interactions of farmers, and to identify the role played therein by digital technology. Focusing on specific uses of smartphones, we show that relationships primarily concern professional and family circles, that phone use is intense throughout farmers’ careers, and that media multiplexity is prevalent in these social interactions. This distinguishes farmers from other professional groups and intensifies their social relations.