Senator Deb Fischer has reintroduced a bill that she says will help producers maximize the benefits of precision agriculture.
The bill packages three acts to include the Precise Act, which would ensure precision ag tech is eligible for assistance under existing USDA conservation programs. The Last Acre Act, which expands high-speed network connectivity across farm and ranch lands, and the PAL Act which provides dedicated loan financing for the purchase and retrofitting of precision ag technologies.
Sen. Fischer explained the need for the bill, saying, “Precision agriculture equipment enables America’s farmers and ranchers to be stronger stewards of the land; however, high upfront costs and a lack of rural broadband connectivity create frustrating barriers to entry...”
Utah Senator John Curtis joins us for “Champions of Rural America” to discuss new legislation to improve forest management and wildfire prevention and its broader implications for rural communities and infrastructure.
NRECA CEO Jim Matheson joins us to discuss rural electric co-ops’ push for expanded USDA loan programs, rising energy demand from data center expansion, wildfire mitigation and other policy priorities impacting rural power infrastructure.
With the Farm Bill now in the Senate’s hands, industry groups say the stakes are high—and timely action could be critical for producers navigating a difficult economic environment.
Domestic demand policy may play a larger role if export competition continues to limit price recovery.
Paul Neiffer joined us to explain how USDA’s base acre expansion will be calculated, outline key deadlines for farmers, and discuss how the changes tie into farm program decisions and the broader Farm Bill outlook.
April 30, 2026 04:51 PM
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Authorities say the drones were recovered during a routine inspection after being stolen last month.
April 30, 2026 12:23 PM
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