The World at Your Door

The Internet has provided a door to communications with the world. Opportunities to communicate with people of common interests in remote and geographically distant areas provide a variety of comment, different experiences and learning potential for everyone connected to the system. This paper reviews my Internet learning process as a non-computer specialist; several different approaches to earning money through this medium; and where farm managers are able to benefit in the future. For people on the information supply side of the Internet, five major means for making money are discussed: (1) contracting with business and government to provide specific information; (2) providing an advertising service; (3) providing courses and newsletters at a fee; (4) collecting a finder's fee for linking potential customers with manufacturers; and (5) providing information on specific topics for a fee. On the demand side, farm managers benefit from the wide variety of information available on the Interent, electronic mail for fast communication, newsgroups on . specific topic areas and mailing lists, all at reasonable cost.