Technology (Agriculture)

in committee · United States · Senate Jun 16, 2026

S 4794: Precision Agriculture Cybersecurity Act

The Precision Agriculture Cybersecurity Act directs federal agencies to assess cybersecurity risks facing modern farming technologies, such as sensors and data management systems. Specifically, it requires the Secretaries of Agriculture and Homeland Security to produce a public report within a year that evaluates current cyber threats, identifies planning gaps, and reviews existing funding and staff resources. The bill also mandates a study by the Government Accountability Office to examine how well different federal departments are coordinating their cybersecurity efforts in this sector. These reports will be shared with relevant congressional committees to inform future policy decisions regarding the protection of agricultural technology.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates federal assessment of cybersecurity risks for agricultural technology and requires a public report on threats and planning gaps.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Cybersecurity Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 2, 2026

S 4652: 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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes a new competitive grant program to fund automation research and development for agriculture, directly increasing government spending on essential programs.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly aims to improve farmworker safety and includes funding for worker training on new automation technologies.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly funds automation and mechanization technologies for agriculture, aiming to improve efficiency and safety.90% confidence

Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · Senate May 21, 2026

S 4627: FARM AI Act of 2026

The FARM AI Act of 2026 directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to integrate artificial intelligence into its research, education, and extension programs to help farmers improve productivity and resource management. This legislation mandates that federal funding for agricultural sciences include specific projects focused on AI adoption, workforce training, and the development of precision farming tools. To coordinate these efforts, the bill creates a new position called the Artificial Intelligence Agriculture Advisor, who will work with other agencies to promote AI use and establish national standards for the sector. Ultimately, the law aims to support small and family-run farms by providing technical assistance and ensuring access to modern digital technologies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates federal funding for agricultural education and AI workforce training, expanding educational access and programs.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates workforce training and AI adoption, enhancing job skills and employment standards in agriculture.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates federal funding for AI adoption, workforce training, and precision farming tools to advance technology in agriculture.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workforce Development Artificial Intelligence Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 30, 2026

S 4470: Supporting Urban and Innovative Farming Act of 2026

This bill establishes a new Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production within the Department of Agriculture to support farming methods like hydroponics and controlled-environment agriculture. It creates a competitive grant program that provides funding to nonprofits, local governments, Tribal organizations, and schools to help urban farmers navigate regulations, access land, and improve food availability in underserved areas. Additionally, the legislation updates federal data collection requirements to include modern farming technologies and allocates specific funding amounts to support these initiatives from 2026 through 2030.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides funding to schools for urban agriculture programs, enhancing student access to food and practical learning opportunities.75% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill promotes sustainable farming methods like hydroponics and controlled-environment agriculture, which reduce water usage and land consumption compared to traditional farming.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill funds hydroponics and controlled-environment agriculture, utilizing advanced agricultural technologies to improve food access.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Data Privacy Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · House Apr 27, 2026

HR 8507: Precision Agriculture Workforce Training and Development Act

This bill, known as the Precision Agriculture Workforce Training and Development Act, aims to expand educational programs that prepare students for careers in precision agriculture. It directly affects universities, research institutions, and public or private partners by authorizing new grants to support workforce training initiatives. The legislation modifies existing federal funding rules to explicitly include cooperative education programs focused on improving skills in modern farming technologies. By adding these specific categories to research and extension grants, the bill ensures that financial resources are available for developing specialized training partnerships.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly authorizes new grants to expand educational programs and workforce training in precision agriculture, directly funding and strengthening higher education initiatives.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill funds workforce training in precision agriculture, explicitly promoting skills in modern farming technology.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · House Jun 2, 2026

HR 9100: Modernizing Agricultural and Manufacturing Bonds Act

This bill expands tax-advantaged financing options for small businesses and farmers by updating the rules for qualified small issue bonds. It allows these bonds to fund the creation of intangible property like software, alongside traditional manufacturing, and raises the borrowing limits for eligible projects from $10 million to $30 million. Additionally, the legislation increases the maximum loan amount for first-time farmers from $450,000 to $1 million and adjusts the calculation for farm size eligibility to use an average rather than a median. These changes are designed to provide more accessible funding for a broader range of agricultural and manufacturing initiatives while including automatic inflation adjustments for future years.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expands tax-advantaged financing and raises borrowing limits, directly advancing fiscal tools for small businesses and farmers.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly allows financing for intangible property like software, directly advancing technology adoption in agriculture and manufacturing.75% confidence

Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 30, 2026

S 4453: LINK Act

The LINK Act requires the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to coordinate their computer systems so they can securely share data on federal land management, disaster response, and related business operations. To achieve this, the two agencies must create a joint plan that includes retiring outdated, isolated technology systems without disrupting current safety or mission capabilities. The law also mandates that these efforts include consultation with Native American tribes and ensure protections for tribal data sovereignty. Finally, the agencies are required to update their systems and begin implementing the new interoperability plan within one year of the bill's enactment.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates modernizing federal IT systems and retiring outdated technology to improve data sharing and security.85% confidence

Tags Agriculture Tribal Nations

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in committee · United States · House Mar 27, 2026

HR 8145: Expanding Access to Distance Learning and Telemedicine Act

This bill expands the scope of federal programs supporting rural areas to include cybersecurity support, digital literacy, workforce development, and job training alongside existing telemedicine and distance learning services. It amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to update the section heading and modify multiple subsections to explicitly incorporate these new categories of assistance. The changes apply to programs that provide technical support and educational resources to rural communities, with an effective date set for six months after the bill is enacted.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands federal programs to include digital literacy and distance learning support for rural areas, enhancing educational access and infrastructure.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands telemedicine access and digital literacy in rural areas, improving healthcare service delivery and patient access to medical professionals.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands workforce development and job training programs, directly supporting labor and employment by enhancing worker skills and employment opportunities.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly expands federal programs to include cybersecurity support, digital literacy, and workforce development, directly advancing technology access and digital equity in rural areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Telehealth Workforce Development Broadband Access Cybersecurity Tags Agriculture Rural Communities

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in committee · United States · House Mar 27, 2026

HR 8147: Prioritizing Rural Broadband Affordability Act

This bill modifies the Rural Electrification Act to require the Secretary of Agriculture to consider broadband affordability when determining which rural households and service areas are unserved. The changes directly affect rural communities by ensuring that high costs are factored into eligibility assessments for federal broadband funding programs. Under the new provisions, officials must evaluate whether existing broadband services are affordable before designating an area as unserved. The amendments will take effect one year after the bill is enacted, allowing time for agencies to update their evaluation criteria.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill expands internet access by requiring broadband affordability considerations in rural funding, promoting digital equity and expanding connectivity.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Broadband Access Telecommunications Tags Agriculture Rural Communities

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in committee · United States · House Mar 5, 2026

HR 7850: Farm Freedom to Repair Act

This bill, known as the Farm Freedom to Repair Act, would allow farmers and repair technicians to bypass digital locks on modern agricultural machinery for maintenance and repair purposes. It directly affects owners of digital electronic agricultural equipment by creating exceptions to existing copyright laws that currently restrict circumventing technological access controls. The legislation permits the diagnosis, maintenance, and repair of these machines without violating federal copyright protections, and it also allows the sale and distribution of tools and parts needed for such repairs. By modifying Section 1201 of the U.S. Copyright Code, the bill aims to ensure farmers can keep their equipment operational without legal barriers.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill supports digital rights by allowing repair of agricultural equipment, promoting consumer autonomy and reducing tech company control over maintenance.85% confidence

Tags Agriculture

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