Could the era of tractor drivers being able to pick up emails and surf the web be getting nearer?

Displays units are getting bigger and the top-of-the range ones are increasingly likely to run on Windows software.

Prices of mobile broadband via the GPRS network are coming down, too.

Both Topcon and Patchwork say they can offer systems but are cautious about its usefulness at the moment.

Richard Price from Patchwork says that they work well in the US, where farmers often run their businesses from the tractor seat and find email and internet access vital, and could be useful for some UK farmers.

But others might find having internet access on the tractor a case of information overload.