Representative Mann Secures, Defends Precision Agriculture
US Representatives Tracey Mann of Kansas and Don Davis of North Carolina, members of the House Agriculture Committee, have introduced the Promoting Precision Agriculture Act.
The bill would establish a partnership between the federal government and the private sector to create voluntary interconnectivity standards and prioritize the cybersecurity needs for precision agriculture technologies.
"Precision agriculture is a critical tool for agricultural producers as they work tirelessly to feed, fuel and clothe the world," said Representative Mann. "Technological advancement has helped producers improve crop yields and make informed management decisions, but new technology brings new challenges. The Promoting Precision Agriculture Act will ensure that producers have a seat at the table when Congress establishes new precision agriculture standards."
"The agricultural community is the backbone of eastern North Carolina, and precision agriculture helps our farmers to be successful, profitable and productive," said Congressman Davis. "We must ensure our growers have access to the cutting-edge precision agriculture technologies necessary to do what they do best — feed America. I'm proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that will deliver wins for rural America."
Precision agriculture includes the use of robotics, sensors, monitors, drones, etc. to help growers increase efficiency, potentially boosting crop yields while lowering costs.
The Promoting Precision Agriculture Act would direct USDA, in consultation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to support the development of standards, guidelines and best practices for precision agriculture, comprehensively address the evolving demands of precision agriculture by requiring the USDA, FCC and NIST to consider the effects future technologies such as 6G will have on precision agriculture when developing guidance to promote the economies of scale of precision agriculture equipment, and prioritize the needs of precision agriculture while protecting it from cyber threats.
(Information courtesy Representative Mann's Office.)