S. 1616 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, May 6, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summarySupports precision agriculture in USDA programs
The bill adds support for precision agriculture—using technology and careful tracking to reduce waste and improve efficiency in farming—to several existing USDA conservation and incentive programs. Farmers could get help adopting precision agriculture practices like better tracking of water, fertilizer, and feed use. The bill also allows rural development loans to be used for precision agriculture investments and requires USDA to emphasize outside experts when helping farmers with soil health and nutrient management.
How it affects you
If you're a farmer, this means more USDA programs could help you adopt precision agriculture technology and practices, potentially reducing your input costs and environmental impact. If you work in agriculture or rural development, you may see new funding opportunities for precision agriculture projects. For most other people, this mainly affects agricultural policy and farming operations.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, May 6, 2025)
Producing Responsible Energy and Conservation Incentives and Solutions for the Environment Act of 2025 or the PRECISE Act of 2025
This bill incorporates support for precision agriculture into various programs of the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Precision agriculture refers to managing, tracking, or reducing crop or livestock production inputs, including seed, feed, fertilizer, chemicals, water, and time, at a heightened level of spatial and temporal granularity to improve efficiencies, reduce waste, and maintain environmental quality. Precision agriculture technology includes any technology and equipment that directly contributes to a reduction in, or improved efficiency of, inputs used in crop or livestock production.
Specifically, the bill makes changes to eligibility criteria, payments, and other aspects of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program. These changes include allowing the programs to support the adoption of precision agriculture practices and acquisition of precision agriculture technologies.
In addition, the bill expands a program through which USDA makes and insures loans to for-profit and nonprofit organizations that invest in rural areas by allowing the loans to be used for precision agriculture practices.
Also, USDA must emphasize the use of third-party providers when providing technical assistance on matters related to soil health for participants in certain USDA conservation programs. This includes planning related to the use of cover crops, precision agriculture practices, and comprehensive nutrient management.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 1616
A BILL
PRECISE Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) · Introduced May 6, 2025 · Agriculture and Food · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action May 6, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.”