Farmers are for the first time this month completing their annual Agricultural Production Survey online.

Every year Statistics New Zealand surveys about 30,000 farmers about their land, livestock and crops, and farming practices.

This week farmers can start filling in their online survey forms, once they’ve received details in the post.

The survey measures changes in the sector, and is used for planning and forecasting. Farmers can use survey results on the Statistics NZ website to keep track of trends and make changes in their businesses.

Statistics New Zealand business indicators manager Neil Kelly said the online option would save time for farmers and better meet their needs.

“Farmers are increasingly using the Internet to do business, and we want to make our surveys easy to complete.”

Rural householders' access to the Internet more than doubled between 2001 and 2013, from 35 percent to 75 percent, according to Statistics NZ’s census information.

“Rural people are just as digitally connected as city dwellers,” Mr Kelly said. “The three-quarters of rural households with Internet access compares with 77 percent in urban areas.

“Statistics NZ figures also show that in 2013, 81 percent of rural households had cellphone access, compared with 84 percent in urban areas.

“Farming communities are embracing telecommunications to overcome their geographical isolation,” Mr Kelly said.