Advancing Automation Research and Development in Agriculture Act

This bill creates a new competitive grant program to help specialty crop farmers in the United States adopt automation and mechanization technologies. The program provides funding to develop cost-effective tools that reduce manual labor, improve farmworker safety, and increase efficiency in growing, harvesting, and processing crops. Grants will prioritize projects that include training for farmworkers to operate new technology and ensure clear communication of results to the public. Starting in fiscal year 2026, the Department of Agriculture must set aside at least $30 million annually for this initiative to accelerate the development and testing of these innovations.