Last progress May 6, 2025 (7 months ago)
Introduced on May 6, 2025 by Debra Fischer
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
This bill pushes more “precision agriculture” on farms and ranches by making it easier and cheaper to adopt tools like GPS-guided equipment and data-driven planting. It lets USDA cover up to 90% of the cost when these tools are used to carry out conservation practices, like reducing fertilizer runoff or improving soil health . Farmers can also get existing conservation payments and still qualify for USDA loans or loan guarantees to help pay for the same on-farm practices, and USDA must tell them about this option in writing .
The bill adds precision agriculture activities to programs that reward good conservation, and it makes clear that payments won’t be given when a farmer has no real cost or lost income from the activity . It also directs USDA to lean on certified third-party experts to help producers plan for soil health, including cover crops, nutrient management, and precision ag practices . Rural development programs are updated to finance precision ag technology to cut costs, spread best practices, and protect the environment .