Rep. Neguse, Rep. Flood Introduce the Precision Agriculture Workforce Training and Development Act

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Joe Neguse recently joined Representative Mike Flood (R-NE) in introducing the bipartisan Precision Agriculture Workforce Training and Development Act. The bill supports the establishment of a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) pilot program that invests in precision agriculture workforce development opportunities for high school or college students. 

“I am proud to join my colleague Congressman Flood in introducing a bill to better support agriculture systems by equipping high-school and college aged students with experience in the USDA’s highly successful pilot program. This legislation will help to bolster workforce development in the farming and land management sectors,” said Congressman Neguse. 

“Nebraska’s First District is leading the way in developing new precision agriculture technology,” said Rep. Mike Flood. “It’s important we invest in the next generation of young leaders to continue feeding and fueling a growing world. Thank you to Rep. Neguse for joining this effort to build the workforce needed for the future of American agriculture.”

The bipartisan legislation will amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to include precision agriculture workforce development as a high-priority research initiative and extension program. Specifically, the bill adds “Precision Agriculture Workforce Development” to USDA’s high priority research areas; and adds a special consideration for determining Agriculture and Food Research Initiative grant recipients in which the secretary will look at institutions that have precision agriculture specific education programs. 

Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

###