Hawai‘i agricultural operations are seeing a significant rise in the use of farm technology, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistics Service (USDA-NASS). The “2025 Hawai‘i Farm Technology Use Report” highlights notable increases in the adoption of devices such as tablets, video surveillance cameras, GPS livestock tracking devices, field sensors, drones, and unmanned aircraft systems.
The data show that from 2019 to 2025, tablet usage among farms nearly doubled, increasing by 93%. Drone and unmanned aircraft system use rose by 110%, while GPS livestock tracking devices saw an increase of over 6,500%. Field sensor adoption also grew by 258%. However, some technologies saw less growth or even decline; for example, budgeting software used for farm operation management decreased by 37%, and GPS-guided equipment dropped by 10%.
“These statistics indicate impressive gains within six years and demonstrate agricultural producers’ resilience and innovation,” said Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. “It is encouraging that farmers and ranchers are using technology in an increasingly difficult agricultural environment.”
The USDA-NASS reports can be accessed online through the following links: “2025 Hawai‘i Farm Technology Use Report” and “2019 Hawai‘i Farm Technology Use Report”.
Additionally, the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB) Market News and Analysis Branch has reviewed this data. Their analysis points to growing interest among operations seeking to expand their use of technology as well as the potential benefits for economic development. The full analysis is available at https://dab.hawaii.gov/add/files/2025/10/Farm-Tech-Econ-Development_SOH_10.15.2025.pdf.
