Bill: Funding increase sought for USDA grants tied to artificial intelligence | State
Bill: Funding increase sought for USDA grants tied to artificial intelligence | State
Publish Date: 2026-05-26 10:56:00
Source Domain: www.thedigitalcourier.com
- The FARM AI Act (Senate Bill 4627) aims to increase funding for AI projects through USDA grants, led by Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C.
- The bill seeks to educate farmers on the latest AI technology to enhance American agricultural production.
- Co-sponsors include Sens. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.; Jim Banks, R-Ind.; Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.; Mike Rounds, R-S.D.; and Lisa Blount Rochester, D-Del.
- The legislation focuses on developing the agricultural workforce, expanding AI access in farming, and bolstering producers’ competitiveness in the global market.
- The bill intends to prioritize AI research and development under the USDA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative and the USDA’s Advanced Research and Development Authority.
- NC State University and the North Carolina Life Sciences Organization support the FARM AI Act, highlighting its potential to accelerate innovation and workforce development in the agricultural sector.
- Advocacy for a ‘regulatory sandbox’ in agriculture is also mentioned as a potential regulatory solution to help farmers adopt new technologies.
