New FARM AI Act to expand AI research, training at USDA

US Rep. Don Davis recently introduced the Fostering Agricultural Research and Modernization through Artificial Intelligence (FARM AI) Act, which would advance the rollout of artificial intelligence in American agriculture by contemporizing workforce and research programs at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). This is a companion bill to the Senate version that was introduced on March 21, by US Sen. Ted Budd, R-NC.

“Feeding America is national security, and the future of agriculture will depend on our ability to innovate,” said Davis in a press release. “We must strengthen research, expand workforce training, and give producers the tools they need to increase productivity, remain globally competitive, and ensure the United States continues to lead the world in agriculture.” 

Artificial intelligence would become a priority research area, with AI research supported through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) and the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AgARDA). The legislation would also provide USDA Extension with additional resources to help farmers responsibly adopt AI and precision agriculture technologies, while expanding grants and fellowships to strengthen the rural workforce and prepare the next generation of agricultural innovators.

A senior USDA official would be designated as the advisor for AI in agriculture; duties would include aligning federal programs, coordinating federal AI initiatives, and working with the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop national standards for agricultural AI.

“As labor shortages continue to challenge agriculture, AI and precision technologies can help farmers stretch scarce labor further and improve productivity,” Kelly Lester, policy analyst for the Center for Food Power and Life at the John Locke Foundation, told the Carolina Journal. “While these tools are not a replacement for a stable agricultural workforce, they can complement it by allowing producers to make better decisions with fewer resources. Policies that encourage innovation while allowing farmers to adopt new technologies at their own pace are more likely to strengthen the long-term competitiveness of American agriculture.”

Budd, when he introduced the Senate version, said:

“AI technologies are advancing at a rapid pace, and if we fail to address the barriers of access to AI deployment in agriculture, America’s producers will fall behind. Precision technologies have the potential to enhance innovation and productivity in farming and ranching, but outdated USDA programs are holding this potential back from reaching our rural communities. I am proud to be leading the bipartisan FARM AI Act to unlock the untapped potential of AI technology to advance American agriculture.”

US Rep. Zach Nunn, R-IA3, is also a sponsor of the legislation. 

“New FARM AI Act to expand AI research, training at USDA” was originally published on www.carolinajournal.com.