Promoting Precision Agriculture Act
The Promoting Precision Agriculture Act aims to accelerate the adoption and leadership of precision agriculture in the United States by creating a framework for voluntary, consensus-based interconnectivity standards. Within two years, the Secretary of Agriculture (in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Federal Communications Commission) must develop private-sector-led standards and best practices to ensure that precision agriculture technologies—ranging from GPS and sensors to AI-enabled analytics and advanced wireless connectivity—work together smoothly and securely. The bill emphasizes coordination with industry, standards bodies, and government at multiple levels, and it requires ongoing monitoring of how well these standards promote adoption, interoperability, and security. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) review process would start within one year of standards being issued and continue every two years for eight years, assessing voluntariness, stakeholder coordination, and adoption outcomes. Overall, the bill seeks to boost U.S. leadership in precision agriculture standards and help farmers and producers deploy smarter, more efficient technologies.
Key Points
- 1Section 2 defines key terms, including precision agriculture, precision agriculture equipment, advanced wireless communications technology, artificial intelligence, and a concept of “trusted” providers not controlled by foreign adversaries. It also explains what counts as precision agriculture equipment and sets the standard for what falls under the act’s scope.
- 2Section 3 states the purposes: (1) to enhance participation in precision agriculture and (2) to promote U.S. leadership in voluntary consensus standards bodies that set precision agriculture standards.
- 3Section 4 establishes a two-year deadline for the Secretary to develop voluntary, consensus-based, private-sector-led interconnectivity standards, guidelines, and best practices for precision agriculture, with broad coordination and consultation with federal agencies, states, and industry groups.
- 4Section 4 also requires the standards to consider evolving needs, connectivity requirements, cybersecurity challenges, and the impacts of advanced wireless tech and AI on precision agriculture.
- 5Section 5 creates an ongoing GAO assessment program: starting within one year after standards are developed and every two years for eight years, examining whether the standards are voluntary, how they were developed with industry groups, and whether they’ve encouraged adoption; it requires a public report to specified congressional committees.