Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) have reintroduced the Promoting Precision Agriculture Act, a bipartisan initiative aimed at expanding access to precision agriculture technologies. This legislation seeks to enhance crop yields, reduce resource waste, and increase farmers’ profit margins.
Precision agriculture leverages technology to provide real-time data, helping farmers optimize their use of water, seed, and fertilizer. By reducing waste and increasing efficiency, farmers can produce higher-quality crops while improving profitability.
The Promoting Precision Agriculture Act would:
- Direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in consultation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), to support the development of voluntary, consensus-based, industry-led interconnectivity standards, guidelines, and best practices for precision agriculture to encourage the adoption of precision agriculture technology.
- Support the evolving demands of precision agriculture by requiring the USDA, NIST, and FCC to consider the impacts next-generation technologies will have on precision agriculture.
- Prioritize the cybersecurity needs of precision agriculture. As advanced precision agriculture technologies become more readily available, the agriculture industry has increasingly become vulnerable to cybersecurity threats.
Support from Both Sides of the Aisle
Senator Warnock emphasized the importance of seamless integration across different agricultural technologies. “Technology is an integral part of farming in the 21st century to increase crop yield and reduce waste, which would increase savings and net income,” he stated. “It only makes sense that these technologies should work seamlessly together – just as you can easily text an Android from an iPhone.”
Majority Leader Thune highlighted the bill’s impact on agricultural states like South Dakota. “Farmers and ranchers are always looking for ways to improve their operations, especially in states like South Dakota where agriculture is the backbone of our economy,” he said. “Precision agriculture harnesses the power of technology to provide real-time data that helps producers become even more efficient and productive.”
The Future of Farming
By directing agencies like the USDA, NIST, and FCC to support the development of industry-led standards, the Promoting Precision Agriculture Act aims to make these technologies more accessible. As the agriculture industry increasingly faces cybersecurity threats, the bill also seeks to safeguard farmers from potential risks.
This bipartisan effort represents a significant step toward modernizing agriculture, improving efficiency, and ensuring that farmers nationwide can fully benefit from technological advancements.
7
0
