PRECISE Act of 2025
The PRECISE Act of 2025 proposes to expand and incentivize the use of precision agriculture (PA) practices and technology across USDA farm and rural development programs. By amending major conservation and rural development laws, the bill adds PA definitions, broadens eligibility for financial assistance, increases cost-sharing and loan options for PA, and requires greater emphasis on PA in technical assistance. In short, it aims to accelerate the adoption of PA tools (such as GPS-guided equipment, sensors, data analytics, and variable-rate input application) to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and protect the environment, especially in rural areas. Key changes include: explicit recognition of precision agriculture in program definitions; expanded eligibility and financing for PA under rural development and conservation programs; higher potential payments for PA practices, including a new cap of up to 90% of costs in some cases; inclusion of PA in Conservation Stewardship Program supplemental payments; and a requirement for more third-party technical assistance focused on soil health and PA planning.
Key Points
- 1Precision agriculture definitions added to law. The bill defines precision agriculture and precision agriculture technology, and clarifies that these terms include a wide range of technologies (GPS/mapping, imagery, sensors, IoT, data analytics, variable-rate input application, etc.) and any other technology the Secretary determines helps reduce inputs or increase efficiency.
- 2Expanded assistance to rural entities, including PA. The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act is amended to include precision agriculture and related technology in the list of purposes for which the Secretary can provide assistance, including financing for acquiring PA technology to promote best practices, lower costs, and improve environmental outcomes.
- 3Increased payments and financing options for PA under EQIP. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program can provide not only traditional payments but also conservation loans or loan guarantees for the same practices on the same land, with producers receiving written notice about loan options. The Secretary can increase payments for precision agriculture up to 90% of the cost of adopting PA practices and technology to implement conservation practices.
- 4PA included in Conservation Stewardship Program credits. Supplemental payments under CSP can now cover precision agriculture activities, and PA is added to the list of practices eligible for resource-conserving crop rotations, advanced grazing management, and related conservation activities.
- 5Enhanced delivery of technical assistance. The program requires greater emphasis on third-party providers for soil health planning and for planning that includes precision agriculture, cover crops, nutrient management, and other innovative plans.