Precision Agriculture Workforce Training and Development Act

119th Congress Introduced by Mike Flood and 1 co-sponsor

The bill designates precision agriculture workforce development as a high-priority research and extension activity and expands funding to train students through cooperative educati

Introduced in House

Purpose and Intent

Introduces the “Precision Agriculture Workforce Training and Development Act.”

The core aim is to treat precision agriculture workforce development as a high-priority area for research and extension under existing federal programs, with a focus on developing training for students and expanding partnerships with public or private entities.

Key Provisions and Changes

Designation of Precision Agriculture Workforce Development as a High-Priority Initiative

Amends Section 1672(d) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to add a new subparagraph:
- “Precision Agriculture Workforce Development” as a research and extension activity.
- Grants under this section may be used to create and support programs that train precision agriculture students.
- Programs may operate in partnership with public or private entities.
- Goal: enhance participation and outcomes in precision agriculture workforce development.

Expansion of the Agricultural Research Initiative Eligibility

Amends the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) statute (Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act) to broaden eligible activities and beneficiaries:
- Adds a new subparagraph to include support for programs at institutions that carry out cooperative education, as defined in section 831(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
- Specifically ties funding to improving precision agriculture workforce training and development through these cooperative education programs.

Affected Parties and Beneficiaries

Primary Beneficiaries: Students and workers pursuing careers in precision agriculture, through training programs funded by federal research and extension grants.

Institutions Eligible for Support: Institutions that engage in cooperative education (as defined by the Higher Education Act) and other public or private partners collaborating on precision agriculture workforce initiatives.

Public and Private Partners: Entities partnering with grantees to implement training and development programs in precision agriculture.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Legislative Status: Introduced in the 119th Congress on April 27, 2026; referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Actions Noted: No further amendments or floor passage details provided in the text available.

Implementation Timeline: The bill outlines authorization and eligibility but does not specify funding levels, grant cycles, or deadlines. Final implementation would depend on subsequent appropriations and any House/Senate action, plus potential negotiation with the executive branch.

Potential Impact

Promotes targeted investment in the workforce needed for precision agriculture technologies (e.g., variable-rate application, data analytics, sensors, automation).

Encourages collaboration between academic institutions and industry or public partners to expand training pathways.

Seeks to integrate cooperative education models into federal research funding, potentially broadening opportunities for experiential learning in agriculture.

May influence future grant competitions under AFRI and related programs to include precision agriculture workforce development as a funded priority.

If you’d like, I can compare this bill to current law to highlight how it changes existing programs or provide a plain-language briefing for non-specialists.

Bill