U.S. senators reintroduce bill to boost precision agriculture
U.S. Senators John Thune and Raphael Warnock have reintroduced the Promoting Precision Agriculture Act, a bill aimed at advancing the adoption of precision agriculture technologies. The legislation seeks to establish voluntary industry standards, ensure interconnectivity between systems, and enhance cybersecurity protections for modern farming.
The bill directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), to develop voluntary, consensus-based interconnectivity standards to streamline technology adoption. It also prioritises cybersecurity measures to protect agricultural data from emerging threats.
“Farmers rely on technology to improve efficiency and increase productivity,” said Senator Thune. “This bill ensures they have the resources needed to integrate next-generation precision agriculture tools into their operations.” Senator Warnock added, “Just as mobile phones communicate across different platforms, farming technology should work seamlessly together. This legislation will help make that possible.”
Support for the bill
The bill has received strong support from agricultural leaders and institutions. Dr. Barry Dunn, president of South Dakota State University, emphasised that enhancing interconnectivity and data security will benefit both South Dakota’s agriculture sector and farmers nationwide. Dr. José-Marie Griffiths, president of Dakota State University, highlighted the need for stronger cybersecurity and AI integration to safeguard the future of precision farming.
As the current U.S. farm bill is set to expire in September 2025, Senator Thune continues to introduce proposals to shape future agricultural policy. The Promoting Precision Agriculture Act marks a significant step toward ensuring that farmers worldwide can fully leverage the benefits of modern technology while protecting their operations from cyber risks.
