II

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 1975

To amend the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act to

provide increased emphasis on competitive grants to promote agricultural

research projects regarding precision agriculture and to provide for the

dissemination of the results of the research projects, and for other

purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JULY 19, 1996

Mr. MCCONNELL (for himself, Mr. CRAIG, Mr. KEMPTHORNE, Mr. GRASSLEY,

and Mr. COCHRAN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice

and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

A BILL

To amend the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research

Grant Act to provide increased emphasis on competitive

grants to promote agricultural research projects regarding precision agriculture and to provide for the dissemination of the results of the research projects, and for

other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Precision Agriculture

3 Research, Education, and Information Dissemination Act

4 of 1996’’.

5 SEC. 2. EMPHASIS ON COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO PROMOTE

6 PRECISION AGRICULTURE.

7 (a) PROMOTION OF PRECISION AGRICULTURE.—Sub8 section (k) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Re9 search Grant Act (section 2 of Public Law 89–106; 7

10 U.S.C. 450i) is amended to read as follows:

11 ‘‘(k) EMPHASIS ON PRECISION AGRICULTURE.—

12 ‘‘(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection:

13 ‘‘(A) ADVISORY BOARD.—The term ‘advi14 sory board’ means the National Agricultural

15 Research, Extension, Education, and Econom16 ics Advisory Board established under section

17 1408 of the National Agricultural Research,

18 Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7

19 U.S.C. 3123).

20 ‘‘(B) AGRICULTURAL INPUTS.—The term

21 ‘agricultural inputs’ includes all farm manage22 ment, agronomic, and field-applied agricultural

23 production inputs, such as machinery, labor,

24 time, fuel, irrigation water, commercial nutri25 ents, livestock waste, crop protection chemicals,

26 agronomic data and information, application
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1 and management services, seed, and other in2 puts used in agricultural production.

3 ‘‘(C) PRECISION AGRICULTURE.—The term

4 ‘precision agriculture’ means an integrated

5 information- and production-based farming sys6 tem that is designed to increase long-term site7 specific and whole-farm production efficiencies,

8 productivity, and profitability while minimizing

9 unintended impacts on wildlife and the environ10 ment by—

11 ‘‘(i) combining agricultural sciences,

12 agricultural inputs and practices, agro13 nomic production databases, and precision

14 agriculture technologies to efficiently man15 age agronomic systems;

16 ‘‘(ii) gathering on-farm information

17 pertaining to the variation and interaction

18 of site-specific spatial and temporal factors

19 affecting crop production;

20 ‘‘(iii) integrating the information with

21 appropriate data derived from remote sens22 ing and other precision agriculture tech23 nologies in a timely manner in order to fa24 cilitate on-farm decisionmaking; and
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1 ‘‘(iv) using the information to pre2 scribe and deliver site-specific application

3 of agricultural inputs and management

4 practices in agricultural production sys5 tems.

6 ‘‘(D) PRECISION AGRICULTURE TECH7 NOLOGIES.—The term ‘precision agriculture

8 technologies’ includes—

9 ‘‘(i) instrumentation and techniques

10 ranging from sophisticated sensors and

11 software systems to manual sampling and

12 data collection tools that measure, record,

13 and manage spatial and temporal data;

14 ‘‘(ii) technologies for searching out

15 and assembling information necessary for

16 sound agricultural production decisionmak17 ing;

18 ‘‘(iii) open systems technologies for

19 data networking and processing that

20 produce valued systems for farm manage21 ment decisionmaking, including high band22 width networks, distributed processing,

23 spatial databasing, object technology, glob24 al positioning systems, data modeling, high

25 performance image processing, high resolu-
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1 tion satellite imagery, digital

2 orthophotgrammetry simulation, geo3 graphic information systems, computer

4 aided design, and digital cartography; and

5 ‘‘(iv) machines that deliver informa6 tion based management practices, includ7 ing global positioning satellites, digital

8 field mapping, on-the-go yield monitoring,

9 automated pest scouting, and site-specific

10 agricultural input application to accom11 plish the objectives of precision agriculture.

12 ‘‘(E) SYSTEMS RESEARCH.—The term ‘sys13 tems research’ means an integrated, coordi14 nated, and iterative investigative process that

15 considers the multiple interacting components

16 and aspects of precision agriculture systems, in17 cluding synthesis of new knowledge regarding

18 the physical-chemical-biological processes and

19 complex interactions with cropping and natural

20 resource systems, precision agriculture tech21 nologies development and implementation, data

22 and information collection and interpretation,

23 production scale planning, production-scale im24 plementation, and farm production efficiencies,

25 productivity, and profitability.
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1 ‘‘(2) EMPHASIS ON RESEARCH, EDUCATION,

2 AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION GRANTS.—The

3 Secretary of Agriculture, in collaboration with the

4 advisory board, shall ensure that research, edu5 cation, and information dissemination grants made

6 under subsection (b) are, where appropriate, consist7 ent with the development and promotion of precision

8 agriculture. Research, education, and information

9 dissemination projects supported by the grants and

10 designed to develop and demonstrate precision agri11 culture shall address 1 or more of the following:

12 ‘‘(A) The study and promotion of compo13 nents of precision agriculture technologies using

14 a systems research approach designed to in15 crease long-term site-specific and whole-farm

16 production efficiencies, productivity, and profit17 ability.

18 ‘‘(B) The improvement in the understand19 ing of agronomic systems, including soil, water,

20 land cover, and meteorological variability.

21 ‘‘(C) The development, demonstration, and

22 dissemination of information regarding preci23 sion agriculture technologies and systems into

24 an integrated program.
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1 ‘‘(D) The promotion of systems research

2 and education projects focusing on the integra3 tion of the multiple aspects of precision agri4 culture, including development, production-scale

5 implementation, and farm production effi6 ciencies, productivity, and profitability.

7 ‘‘(E) The education of agricultural produc8 ers and consumers regarding the benefits of

9 precision agriculture as it relates to increased

10 long-term farm production efficiencies, produc11 tivity, and profitability, as well as the mainte12 nance of the environment and improvements in

13 international trade.

14 ‘‘(F) The provision of training and edu15 cational programs for State cooperative exten16 sion services agents, agricultural producers, ag17 ricultural input machinery, product, and service

18 providers, and certified crop advisers and other

19 professionals involved in the agricultural pro20 duction and transfer of integrated precision ag21 riculture technology.

22 ‘‘(3) PRIORITIES FOR RESEARCH, EDUCATION,

23 AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION GRANTS.—In

24 making grants to eligible entities under subsection

25 (b) regarding precision agriculture, the Secretary, in
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1 collaboration with the advisory board, shall give pri2 ority to research, education, and information dis3 semination projects that are designed to accomplish

4 the following:

5 ‘‘(A) The use of precision agriculture tech6 nologies and a systems research approach to in7 crease long-term site-specific and whole-farm

8 production efficiencies, productivity, and profit9 ability.

10 ‘‘(B) The integration of research, edu11 cation, and information dissemination compo12 nents in a practical and readily available man13 ner so that the findings of the project will be

14 made readily usable by farmers.

15 ‘‘(C) The promotion of the efficient use of

16 agricultural inputs, rather than the uniform re17 duction in the use of agricultural inputs.

18 ‘‘(D) The maximization of the involvement

19 and cooperation of precision agriculture produc20 ers, certified crop advisers, State cooperative

21 extension services agents, and agricultural input

22 machinery, product, and service providers in

23 precision agriculture systems research projects

24 involving on-farm research, education, and in-
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1 formation dissemination of precision agri2 culture.

3 ‘‘(E) The cooperation among farms that

4 are managed using precision agriculture farm

5 production practices, nonprofit organizations,

6 agribusinesses, agricultural input machinery,

7 product, and service providers, land-grant col8 leges and universities, the State cooperative ex9 tension services, and Government agencies (in10 cluding national laboratories).

11 ‘‘(F) The benefits of precision agriculture

12 in relationship to global food production, reduc13 ing world hunger, world population trends, and

14 efforts to maintain and enhance the environ15 ment.

16 ‘‘(G) The diversity of United States agri17 cultural production, including production on

18 family owned and operated farms, large acreage

19 farms, small acreage farms, and mixed crop,

20 specialty crop, commodity crop, and livestock

21 operations.

22 ‘‘(H) The maximization of collaboration

23 with multiple agencies and other partners that

24 includes leveraging of funds and resources.
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1 ‘‘(4) EDUCATION AND INFORMATION DISSEMI2 NATION.—

3 ‘‘(A) RESERVATION OF FUNDS FOR

4 PROJECTS.—Of the funds allocated for competi5 tive research grants under subsection (b) relat6 ed to precision agriculture, the Secretary shall

7 reserve a portion of the funds for education and

8 information dissemination projects regarding

9 precision agriculture.

10 ‘‘(B) COMPLIANCE WITH PRIORITIES FOR

11 INFORMATION DISSEMINATION.—In the dissemi12 nation of information derived from research

13 projects regarding precision agriculture that are

14 supported by grants made under subsection (b),

15 the Secretary shall ensure that both employees

16 of the Department of Agriculture and grant re17 cipients comply with the priorities specified in

18 paragraph (3).

19 ‘‘(5) PRECISION AGRICULTURE PARTNER20 SHIPS.—

21 ‘‘(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—For the purposes

22 of this section, the Secretary, in collaboration

23 with the advisory board, shall encourage the es24 tablishment of appropriate multistate and na25 tional partnerships or consortia between—
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1 ‘‘(i) land-grant colleges and univer2 sities, State Agricultural Experiment Sta3 tions, State cooperative extension services,

4 other colleges and universities with demon5 strable expertise regarding precision agri6 culture, agencies of the Department of Ag7 riculture, national laboratories, agri8 businesses, agricultural equipment and

9 input manufacturers and retailers, certified

10 crop advisers, commodity organizations,

11 other Federal or State government entities

12 and agencies, and non-agricultural indus13 tries and nonprofit organizations with de14 monstrable expertise regarding precision

15 agriculture; and

16 ‘‘(ii) the persons and entities de17 scribed in clause (i) and agricultural pro18 ducers and other land managers.

19 ‘‘(B) PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN NATIONAL

20 LABORATORIES AND DEPARTMENT OF AGRI21 CULTURE.—The partnerships established pursu22 ant to this paragraph shall include the partner23 ship entered into (before the date of the enact24 ment of this paragraph) by the Secretary of

25 Energy, on behalf of the national laboratories,
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1 and the Secretary of Agriculture to promote co2 operation and coordination between the national

3 laboratories and agencies of the Department of

4 Agriculture in the areas of systems research,

5 technology research and development, and the

6 transfer, utilization, and private-sector commer7 cialization of technology.

8 ‘‘(C) ROLE OF PARTNERSHIPS.—Partner9 ships described in subparagraphs (A) and (B)

10 shall be eligible grantees for conducting systems

11 research (including on-farm research) regarding

12 precision agriculture and precision agriculture

13 technologies.

14 ‘‘(6) SPECIAL ASPECTS OF RESEARCH

15 GRANTS.—As part of a research project regarding

16 precision agriculture that is funded under subsection

17 (b), the grant recipient shall agree, to the extent

18 practicable, to—

19 ‘‘(A) study precision agriculture production

20 systems that are located in areas that possess

21 diverse crop, soil, climate, and physical charac22 teristics;

23 ‘‘(B) study farms that are or have been

24 managed using precision agriculture farm pro25 duction practices that rely on the efficient use
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1 of agricultural inputs and precision agriculture

2 technologies to increase farm production effi3 ciency, productivity, and profitability;

4 ‘‘(C) conduct demonstration projects on

5 farms that will be managed using precision ag6 riculture;

7 ‘‘(D) take advantage of the experience and

8 expertise of agricultural producers through

9 their direct participation and leadership in

10 projects;

11 ‘‘(E) utilize advanced access and commu12 nications technologies to transfer practical, reli13 able, and timely information to agricultural pro14 ducers concerning precision agriculture prac15 tices, technologies, and systems; and

16 ‘‘(F) promote partnerships among produc17 ers, nonprofit organizations, agribusinesses, ag18 ricultural input machinery, product, and service

19 providers, colleges and universities, the State

20 cooperative extension services, and Government

21 agencies (including national laboratories).’’.

22 (b) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—Subsection (l) of

23 the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant

24 Act (section 2 of Public Law 89–106; 7 U.S.C. 450i) is

25 amended to read as follows:
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1 ‘‘(l) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF GRANT RECIPI2 ENTS.—In addition to the recordkeeping responsibilities of

3 recipients of assistance under this section, as prescribed

4 by the Secretary under subsection (f), the Secretary shall

5 prescribe regulations to require grant recipients to submit

6 to the Secretary periodic reports regarding the research,

7 education, and information dissemination activities sup8 ported with the assistance so as to enhance the usefulness

9 of the monitoring and evaluation system developed by the

10 Secretary under section 1413A(b) of the National Agricul11 tural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of

12 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3129(b)).’’.

13 (c) ENTITIES ELIGIBLE FOR GRANTS.—Subsection

14 (b)(1) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research

15 Grant Act (section 2 of Public Law 89–106; 7 U.S.C.

16 450i) is amended—

17 (1) by inserting after ‘‘Federal agencies’’ the

18 following: ‘‘(including laboratories as defined in sec19 tion 12(d) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology In20 novation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a(d)))’’; and

21 (2) by inserting after ‘‘corporations’’ the follow22 ing: ‘‘(including agricultural input machinery, prod23 uct, and service providers)’’.

24 (d) PRECISION AGRICULTURE RESEARCH, EXTEN25 SION, AND EDUCATION, UNDER FUND FOR RURAL AMER-
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1 ICA.—Section 793(c)(2)(A) of the Federal Agriculture Im2 provement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–127;

3 7 U.S.C. 2204f(c)(2)(A)) is amended—

4 (1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of clause (vii);

5 (2) by striking the period at the end of clause

6 (viii) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and

7 (3) by inserting after clause (viii) the following:

8 ‘‘(ix) develop and promote precision

9 agriculture and precision agriculture tech10 nologies using a systems research ap11 proach, as the terms are defined in sub12 section (k)(1) of the Competitive, Special,

13 and Facilities Research Grant Act (section

14 2 of Public Law 89–106; 7 U.S.C. 450i).’’.

15 (e) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Subsection (b)(9)(A)

16 of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant

17 Act (section 2 of Public Law 89–106; 7 U.S.C. 450i) is

18 amended by striking ‘‘subsection (j)’’ and inserting ‘‘sub19 section (k)’’.

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