Western South Dakota News

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock have reintroduced the Promoting Precision Agriculture Act. This legislation aims to enhance the adoption of precision agriculture technologies among farmers and ranchers by encouraging collaboration between the government and private sector to develop voluntary interconnectivity standards. It also emphasizes prioritizing cybersecurity to support agricultural innovation.

"Farmers and ranchers are always looking for ways to improve their operations, especially in states like South Dakota where agriculture is the backbone of our economy," stated Thune. He highlighted that precision agriculture provides real-time data to help producers become more efficient and productive.

Warnock noted, "Technology is an integral part of farming in the 21st century to increase crop yield and reduce waste, which would increase savings and net income." He expressed his commitment to working with Thune on this bipartisan effort.

Dr. Barry Dunn, president of South Dakota State University, commented on South Dakota's leadership in adopting precision agriculture technology. He emphasized that streamlining interconnectivity and protecting data streams benefits both state and national agriculture.

Dr. José-Marie Griffiths, president of Dakota State University, described the reintroduction as crucial for American agriculture's future. She underscored the importance of integrating technology while safeguarding farmers' data as essential steps for securing the food supply.

Thune has been involved in drafting four farm bills during his congressional tenure and plans to continue proposing farm bill initiatives before the current bill expires in September 2025.