Sponsors (2)
The bill directs federal agricultural research toward climate resilience and precision/energy technologies to boost farm efficiency and climate benefits, but does so at added public cost and with a risk of favoring larger farms and crowding out other research priorities.
Farmers and ranchers gain tools and research to better withstand extreme weather and drought, reducing crop losses and stabilizing farm incomes.
Farmers and rural communities may see increased opportunities for long-term carbon storage on farms through on-farm practices and technology development, contributing to climate mitigation benefits locally and nationally.
Producers who adopt precision-agriculture technologies can lower input costs (seed, fertilizer, water) and reduce waste, improving farm efficiency and potentially lowering food production costs.
Taxpayers and the federal budget may face higher costs to fund expanded research and programs under AGARDA’s broader climate and technology priorities.
Emphasis on technology and voluntary adoption is likely to advantage larger, better-capitalized farms and could widen economic disparities with small and resource-limited farms.
Shifting AGARDA funding toward specific climate-related and technology priorities could reduce funding available for other agricultural research areas, affecting scientists and farmers who rely on broader research portfolios.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Directs the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority to prioritize development of sustainable and precision agriculture technologies addressing resilience, carbon storage, drought, biofuels, and conservation adoption.
Introduced October 28, 2025 by Joseph Neguse · Last progress October 28, 2025
Expands the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority’s statutory mission to support sustainable agriculture and precision agriculture technologies. It adds a definition for “precision agriculture” and directs the Authority to develop voluntary resilience solutions and technologies that address extreme weather impacts on crops, drought and soil water-holding capacity, expanded long-term carbon storage via sustainable practices, farm-scale biofuel feasibility, increased voluntary adoption of carbon-sequestering conservation practices, and economic feasibility and adoption of precision agriculture. The change is limited to directing the agency’s research and development purposes; it does not itself appropriate funds or create new regulatory mandates or deadlines.