Promoting Precision Agriculture Act
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (28 Mar 2025): Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
What this bill does
H.R. 1985, the Promoting Precision Agriculture Act, would direct the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create voluntary standards for precision agriculture. These standards would cover managing, tracking, or reducing farm inputs like seed, fertilizer, and water with greater detail to improve efficiency and reduce waste. The USDA would collaborate with other government agencies, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Federal Communications Commission, as well as private sector stakeholders and industry groups.
The bill specifies that in developing these standards, the USDA must consider the connectivity needs of precision agriculture equipment, cybersecurity challenges, and the influence of artificial intelligence. The Government Accountability Office would be required to periodically evaluate and report to Congress on how these voluntary standards are working and if they are encouraging the adoption of precision agriculture.
This bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on March 10, 2025, by Representative Donald Davis. It has been referred to the Committee on Agriculture. As it is in the early stages of the legislative process, it would need to pass through committee review and then be considered by the full House before potentially moving to the Senate.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Promoting Precision Agriculture Act
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop voluntary standards for precision agriculture (i.e., managing, tracking, or reducing crop or livestock production inputs, including seed, feed, fertilizer, chemicals, water, and time at a heightened level of spatial and temporal granularity to improve efficiencies, reduce waste, and maintain environmental quality).
USDA, in consultation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), must develop voluntary, consensus-based, private sector-led interconnectivity standards, guidelines, and best practices for precision agriculture to promote economies of scale and ease the burden of adoption. USDA must (1) coordinate with relevant public and trusted private sector stakeholders and relevant industry organizations, and (2) consult with sector-specific agencies and state and local governments.
Further, in developing the standards, USDA must, in consultation with NIST and the FCC, consider the
• connectivity needs of precision agriculture equipment,
• cybersecurity challenges facing precision agriculture, and
• impact of artificial intelligence on this area.
The Government Accountability Office must periodically assess and report to Congress on the standards.
Timeline
28 Mar 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 1985 do?
- H.R. 1985, the Promoting Precision Agriculture Act, would direct the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create voluntary standards for precision agriculture. These standards would cover managing, tracking, or reducing farm inputs like seed, fertilizer, and water with greater detail to improve efficiency and reduce waste. The USDA would collaborate with other government agencies, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Federal Communications Commission, as well as private sector stakeholders and industry groups. The bill specifies that in developing these standards, the USDA must consider the connectivity needs of precision agriculture equipment, cybersecurity challenges, and the influence of artificial intelligence. The Government Accountability Office would be required to periodically evaluate and report to Congress on how these voluntary standards are working and if they are encouraging the adoption of precision agriculture. This bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on March 10, 2025, by Representative Donald Davis. It has been referred to the Committee on Agriculture. As it is in the early stages of the legislative process, it would need to pass through committee review and then be considered by the full House before potentially moving to the Senate.
- Has H.R. 1985 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for H.R. 1985. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored H.R. 1985?
- H.R. 1985 was sponsored by Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1] (D-NC), with 2 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 1985?
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development. (28 Mar 2025).
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More bills from Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]
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