Precision Agriculture Research, Education, and Information Dissemination Act of 1996

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Precision Agriculture Research, 
Education, and Information Dissemination Act of 1996''.

SEC. 2. EMPHASIS ON COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO PROMOTE PRECISION 
              AGRICULTURE.

    (a) Promotion of Precision Agriculture.--Subsection (k) of the 
Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (section 2 of 
Public Law 89-106; 7 U.S.C. 450i) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(k) Emphasis on Precision Agriculture.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Advisory board.--The term `advisory board' 
                means the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
                Education, and Economics Advisory Board established 
                under section 1408 of the National Agricultural 
                Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
                U.S.C. 3123).
                    ``(B) Agricultural inputs.--The term `agricultural 
                inputs' includes all farm management, agronomic, and 
                field-applied agricultural production inputs, such as 
                machinery, labor, time, fuel, irrigation water, 
                commercial nutrients, livestock waste, crop protection 
                chemicals, agronomic data and information, application 
                and management services, seed, and other inputs used in 
                agricultural production.
                    ``(C) Precision agriculture.--The term `precision 
                agriculture' means an integrated information- and 
                production-based farming system that is designed to 
                increase long-term site-specific and whole-farm 
                production efficiencies, productivity, and 
                profitability while minimizing unintended impacts on 
                wildlife and the environment by--
                            ``(i) combining agricultural sciences, 
                        agricultural inputs and practices, agronomic 
                        production databases, and precision agriculture 
                        technologies to efficiently manage agronomic 
                        systems;
                            ``(ii) gathering on-farm information 
                        pertaining to the variation and interaction of 
                        site-specific spatial and temporal factors 
                        affecting crop production;
                            ``(iii) integrating the information with 
                        appropriate data derived from remote sensing 
                        and other precision agriculture technologies in 
                        a timely manner in order to facilitate on-farm 
                        decisionmaking; and
                            ``(iv) using the information to prescribe 
                        and deliver site-specific application of 
                        agricultural inputs and management practices in 
                        agricultural production systems.
                    ``(D) Precision agriculture technologies.--The term 
                `precision agriculture technologies' includes--
                            ``(i) instrumentation and techniques 
                        ranging from sophisticated sensors and software 
                        systems to manual sampling and data collection 
                        tools that measure, record, and manage spatial 
                        and temporal data;
                            ``(ii) technologies for searching out and 
                        assembling information necessary for sound 
                        agricultural production decisionmaking;
                            ``(iii) open systems technologies for data 
                        networking and processing that produce valued 
                        systems for farm management decisionmaking, 
                        including high bandwidth networks, distributed 
                        processing, spatial databasing, object 
                        technology, global positioning systems, data 
                        modeling, high performance image processing, 
                        high resolution satellite imagery, digital 
                        orthophotgrammetry simulation, geographic 
                        information systems, computer aided design, and 
                        digital cartography; and
                            ``(iv) machines that deliver information 
                        based management practices, including global 
                        positioning satellites, digital field mapping, 
                        on-the-go yield monitoring, automated pest 
                        scouting, and site-specific agricultural input 
                        application to accomplish the objectives of 
                        precision agriculture.
                    ``(E) Systems research.--The term `systems 
                research' means an integrated, coordinated, and 
                iterative investigative process that considers the 
                multiple interacting components and aspects of 
                precision agriculture systems, including synthesis of 
                new knowledge regarding the physical-chemical-
                biological processes and complex interactions with 
                cropping and natural resource systems, precision 
                agriculture technologies development and 
                implementation, data and information collection and 
                interpretation, production scale planning, production-
                scale implementation, and farm production efficiencies, 
                productivity, and profitability.
            ``(2) Emphasis on research, education, and information 
        dissemination grants.--The Secretary of Agriculture, in 
        collaboration with the advisory board, shall ensure that 
        research, education, and information dissemination grants made 
        under subsection (b) are, where appropriate, consistent with 
        the development and promotion of precision agriculture. 
        Research, education, and information dissemination projects 
        supported by the grants and designed to develop and demonstrate 
        precision agriculture shall address 1 or more of the following:
                    ``(A) The study and promotion of components of 
                precision agriculture technologies using a systems 
                research approach designed to increase long-term site-
                specific and whole-farm production efficiencies, 
                productivity, and profitability.
                    ``(B) The improvement in the understanding of 
                agronomic systems, including soil, water, land cover, 
                and meteorological variability.
                    ``(C) The development, demonstration, and 
                dissemination of information regarding precision 
                agriculture technologies and systems into an integrated 
                program.
                    ``(D) The promotion of systems research and 
                education projects focusing on the integration of the 
                multiple aspects of precision agriculture, including 
                development, production-scale implementation, and farm 
                production efficiencies, productivity, and 
                profitability.
                    ``(E) The education of agricultural producers and 
                consumers regarding the benefits of precision 
                agriculture as it relates to increased long-term farm 
                production efficiencies, productivity, and 
                profitability, as well as the maintenance of the 
                environment and improvements in international trade.
                    ``(F) The provision of training and educational 
                programs for State cooperative extension services 
                agents, agricultural producers, agricultural input 
                machinery, product, and service providers, and 
                certified crop advisers and other professionals 
                involved in the agricultural production and transfer of 
                integrated precision agriculture technology.
            ``(3) Priorities for research, education, and information 
        dissemination grants.--In making grants to eligible entities 
        under subsection (b) regarding precision agriculture, the 
        Secretary, in collaboration with the advisory board, shall give 
        priority to research, education, and information dissemination 
        projects that are designed to accomplish the following:
                    ``(A) The use of precision agriculture technologies 
                and a systems research approach to increase long-term 
                site-specific and whole-farm production efficiencies, 
                productivity, and profitability.
                    ``(B) The integration of research, education, and 
                information dissemination components in a practical and 
                readily available manner so that the findings of the 
                project will be made readily usable by farmers.
                    ``(C) The promotion of the efficient use of 
                agricultural inputs, rather than the uniform reduction 
                in the use of agricultural inputs.
                    ``(D) The maximization of the involvement and 
                cooperation of precision agriculture producers, 
                certified crop advisers, State cooperative extension 
                services agents, and agricultural input machinery, 
                product, and service providers in precision agriculture 
                systems research projects involving on-farm research, 
                education, and information dissemination of precision 
                agriculture.
                    ``(E) The cooperation among farms that are managed 
                using precision agriculture farm production practices, 
                nonprofit organizations, agribusinesses, agricultural 
                input machinery, product, and service providers, land-
                grant colleges and universities, the State cooperative 
                extension services, and Government agencies (including 
                national laboratories).
                    ``(F) The benefits of precision agriculture in 
                relationship to global food production, reducing world 
                hunger, world population trends, and efforts to 
                maintain and enhance the environment.
                    ``(G) The diversity of United States agricultural 
                production, including production on family owned and 
                operated farms, large acreage farms, small acreage 
                farms, and mixed crop, specialty crop, commodity crop, 
                and livestock operations.
                    ``(H) The maximization of collaboration with 
                multiple agencies and other partners that includes 
                leveraging of funds and resources.
            ``(4) Education and information dissemination.--
                    ``(A) Reservation of funds for projects.--Of the 
                funds allocated for competitive research grants under 
                subsection (b) related to precision agriculture, the 
                Secretary shall reserve a portion of the funds for 
                education and information dissemination projects 
                regarding precision agriculture.
                    ``(B) Compliance with priorities for information 
                dissemination.--In the dissemination of information 
                derived from research projects regarding precision 
                agriculture that are supported by grants made under 
                subsection (b), the Secretary shall ensure that both 
                employees of the Department of Agriculture and grant 
                recipients comply with the priorities specified in 
                paragraph (3).
            ``(5) Precision agriculture partnerships.--
                    ``(A) Establishment.--For the purposes of this 
                section, the Secretary, in collaboration with the 
                advisory board, shall encourage the establishment of 
                appropriate multistate and national partnerships or 
                consortia between--
                            ``(i) land-grant colleges and universities, 
                        State Agricultural Experiment Stations, State 
                        cooperative extension services, other colleges 
                        and universities with demonstrable expertise 
                        regarding precision agriculture, agencies of 
                        the Department of Agriculture, national 
                        laboratories, agribusinesses, agricultural 
                        equipment and input manufacturers and 
                        retailers, certified crop advisers, commodity 
                        organizations, other Federal or State 
                        government entities and agencies, and non-
                        agricultural industries and nonprofit 
                        organizations with demonstrable expertise 
                        regarding precision agriculture; and
                            ``(ii) the persons and entities described 
                        in clause (i) and agricultural producers and 
                        other land managers.
                    ``(B) Partnership between national laboratories and 
                department of agriculture.--The partnerships 
                established pursuant to this paragraph shall include 
                the partnership entered into (before the date of the 
                enactment of this paragraph) by the Secretary of 
                Energy, on behalf of the national laboratories, and the 
                Secretary of Agriculture to promote cooperation and 
                coordination between the national laboratories and 
                agencies of the Department of Agriculture in the areas 
                of systems research, technology research and 
                development, and the transfer, utilization, and 
private-sector commercialization of technology.
                    ``(C) Role of partnerships.--Partnerships described 
                in subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall be eligible grantees 
                for conducting systems research (including on-farm 
                research) regarding precision agriculture and precision 
                agriculture technologies.
            ``(6) Special aspects of research grants.--As part of a 
        research project regarding precision agriculture that is funded 
        under subsection (b), the grant recipient shall agree, to the 
        extent practicable, to--
                    ``(A) study precision agriculture production 
                systems that are located in areas that possess diverse 
                crop, soil, climate, and physical characteristics;
                    ``(B) study farms that are or have been managed 
                using precision agriculture farm production practices 
                that rely on the efficient use of agricultural inputs 
                and precision agriculture technologies to increase farm 
                production efficiency, productivity, and profitability;
                    ``(C) conduct demonstration projects on farms that 
                will be managed using precision agriculture;
                    ``(D) take advantage of the experience and 
                expertise of agricultural producers through their 
                direct participation and leadership in projects;
                    ``(E) utilize advanced access and communications 
                technologies to transfer practical, reliable, and 
                timely information to agricultural producers concerning 
                precision agriculture practices, technologies, and 
                systems; and
                    ``(F) promote partnerships among producers, 
                nonprofit organizations, agribusinesses, agricultural 
                input machinery, product, and service providers, 
                colleges and universities, the State cooperative 
                extension services, and Government agencies (including 
                national laboratories).''.
    (b) Reporting Requirements.--Subsection (l) of the Competitive, 
Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (section 2 of Public Law 89-
106; 7 U.S.C. 450i) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(l) Reporting Requirements of Grant Recipients.--In addition to 
the recordkeeping responsibilities of recipients of assistance under 
this section, as prescribed by the Secretary under subsection (f), the 
Secretary shall prescribe regulations to require grant recipients to 
submit to the Secretary periodic reports regarding the research, 
education, and information dissemination activities supported with the 
assistance so as to enhance the usefulness of the monitoring and 
evaluation system developed by the Secretary under section 1413A(b) of 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act 
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3129(b)).''.
    (c) Entities Eligible for Grants.--Subsection (b)(1) of the 
Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (section 2 of 
Public Law 89-106; 7 U.S.C. 450i) is amended--
            (1) by inserting after ``Federal agencies'' the following: 
        ``(including laboratories as defined in section 12(d) of the 
        Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
        3710a(d)))''; and
            (2) by inserting after ``corporations'' the following: 
        ``(including agricultural input machinery, product, and service 
        providers)''.
    (d) Precision Agriculture Research, Extension, and Education, Under 
Fund for Rural America.--Section 793(c)(2)(A) of the Federal 
Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-127; 7 
U.S.C. 2204f(c)(2)(A)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (vii);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of clause (viii) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by inserting after clause (viii) the following:
                            ``(ix) develop and promote precision 
                        agriculture and precision agriculture 
                        technologies using a systems research approach, 
                        as the terms are defined in subsection (k)(1) 
                        of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities 
                        Research Grant Act (section 2 of Public Law 89-
                        106; 7 U.S.C. 450i).''.
    (e) Technical Amendment.--Subsection (b)(9)(A) of the Competitive, 
Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (section 2 of Public Law 89-
106; 7 U.S.C. 450i) is amended by striking ``subsection (j)'' and 
inserting ``subsection (k)''.

Summary: Precision Agriculture Research, Education, and Information Dissemination Act of 1996 - Amends the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act to emphasize competitive grants that promote precision agriculture research projects and to promote dissemination of such projects' results. Provides for the establishment of multistate and national agriculture partnerships, including existing partnerships between national laboratories and the Department of Agriculture. Amends the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to include precision agriculture within the research categories of the Fund for Rural America.