Modern farmers are making extensive use of computers in managing their businesses. The US department of Agriculture, which has the responsibility of collecting and disseminating agricultural information, has been involved in the development of several computer-based information networks to support the agricultural community in its management efforts. The Foreign Agricultural Service provides rapid dissemination of agricultural trade information to commodities exporters through its link with University of Nebraska's AGNET system. Updated market data for more than 150 crops are collected and disseminated by the Agricultural Marketing Service over a leased wire news network. Pilot projects have been implemented to provide farmers with marketing information over public television and to test the effectiveness of electronic livestock marketing.