text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Precision Agriculture Research, 
  Education, and Information Dissemination Act of 1996''.
  
  SEC. 2. EMPHASIS ON COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO PROMOTE PRECISION 
                AGRICULTURE.
  
      (a) Promotion of Precision Agriculture.--Subsection (k) of the 
  Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (section 2 of 
  Public Law 89-106; 7 U.S.C. 450i) is amended to read as follows:
      ``(k) Emphasis on Precision Agriculture.--
              ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                      ``(A) Advisory board.--The term `advisory board' 
                  means the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
                  Education, and Economics Advisory Board established 
                  under section 1408 of the National Agricultural 
                  Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
                  U.S.C. 3123).
                      ``(B) Agricultural inputs.--The term `agricultural 
                  inputs' includes all farm management, agronomic, and 
                  field-applied agricultural production inputs, such as 
                  machinery, labor, time, fuel, irrigation water, 
                  commercial nutrients, livestock waste, crop protection 
                  chemicals, agronomic data and information, application 
                  and management services, seed, and other inputs used in 
                  agricultural production.
                      ``(C) Precision agriculture.--The term `precision 
                  agriculture' means an integrated information- and 
                  production-based farming system that is designed to 
                  increase long-term site-specific and whole-farm 
                  production efficiencies, productivity, and 
                  profitability while minimizing unintended impacts on 
                  wildlife and the environment by--
                              ``(i) combining agricultural sciences, 
                          agricultural inputs and practices, agronomic 
                          production databases, and precision agriculture 
                          technologies to efficiently manage agronomic 
                          systems;
                              ``(ii) gathering on-farm information 
                          pertaining to the variation and interaction of 
                          site-specific spatial and temporal factors 
                          affecting crop production;
                              ``(iii) integrating the information with 
                          appropriate data derived from remote sensing 
                          and other precision agriculture technologies in 
                          a timely manner in order to facilitate on-farm 
                          decisionmaking; and
                              ``(iv) using the information to prescribe 
                          and deliver site-specific application of 
                          agricultural inputs and management practices in 
                          agricultural production systems.
                      ``(D) Precision agriculture technologies.--The term 
                  `precision agriculture technologies' includes--
                              ``(i) instrumentation and techniques 
                          ranging from sophisticated sensors and software 
                          systems to manual sampling and data collection 
                          tools that measure, record, and manage spatial 
                          and temporal data;
                              ``(ii) technologies for searching out and 
                          assembling information necessary for sound 
                          agricultural production decisionmaking;
                              ``(iii) open systems technologies for data 
                          networking and processing that produce valued 
                          systems for farm management decisionmaking, 
                          including high bandwidth networks, distributed 
                          processing, spatial databasing, object 
                          technology, global positioning systems, data 
                          modeling, high performance image processing, 
                          high resolution satellite imagery, digital 
                          orthophotgrammetry simulation, geographic 
                          information systems, computer aided design, and 
                          digital cartography; and
                              ``(iv) machines that deliver information 
                          based management practices, including global 
                          positioning satellites, digital field mapping, 
                          on-the-go yield monitoring, automated pest 
                          scouting, and site-specific agricultural input 
                          application to accomplish the objectives of 
                          precision agriculture.
                      ``(E) Systems research.--The term `systems 
                  research' means an integrated, coordinated, and 
                  iterative investigative process that considers the 
                  multiple interacting components and aspects of 
                  precision agriculture systems, including synthesis of 
                  new knowledge regarding the physical-chemical-
                  biological processes and complex interactions with 
                  cropping and natural resource systems, precision 
                  agriculture technologies development and 
                  implementation, data and information collection and 
                  interpretation, production scale planning, production-
                  scale implementation, and farm production efficiencies, 
                  productivity, and profitability.
              ``(2) Emphasis on research, education, and information 
          dissemination grants.--The Secretary of Agriculture, in 
          collaboration with the advisory board, shall ensure that 
          research, education, and information dissemination grants made 
          under subsection (b) are, where appropriate, consistent with 
          the development and promotion of precision agriculture. 
          Research, education, and information dissemination projects 
          supported by the grants and designed to develop and demonstrate 
          precision agriculture shall address 1 or more of the following:
                      ``(A) The study and promotion of components of 
                  precision agriculture technologies using a systems 
                  research approach designed to increase long-term site-
                  specific and whole-farm production efficiencies, 
                  productivity, and profitability.
                      ``(B) The improvement in the understanding of 
                  agronomic systems, including soil, water, land cover, 
                  and meteorological variability.
                      ``(C) The development, demonstration, and 
                  dissemination of information regarding precision 
                  agriculture technologies and systems into an integrated 
                  program.
                      ``(D) The promotion of systems research and 
                  education projects focusing on the integration of the 
                  multiple aspects of precision agriculture, including 
                  development, production-scale implementation, and farm 
                  production efficiencies, productivity, and 
                  profitability.
                      ``(E) The education of agricultural producers and 
                  consumers regarding the benefits of precision 
                  agriculture as it relates to increased long-term farm 
                  production efficiencies, productivity, and 
                  profitability, as well as the maintenance of the 
                  environment and improvements in international trade.
                      ``(F) The provision of training and educational 
                  programs for State cooperative extension services 
                  agents, agricultural producers, agricultural input 
                  machinery, product, and service providers, and 
                  certified crop advisers and other professionals 
                  involved in the agricultural production and transfer of 
                  integrated precision agriculture technology.
              ``(3) Priorities for research, education, and information 
          dissemination grants.--In making grants to eligible entities 
          under subsection (b) regarding precision agriculture, the 
          Secretary, in collaboration with the advisory board, shall give 
          priority to research, education, and information dissemination 
          projects that are designed to accomplish the following:
                      ``(A) The use of precision agriculture technologies 
                  and a systems research approach to increase long-term 
                  site-specific and whole-farm production efficiencies, 
                  productivity, and profitability.
                      ``(B) The integration of research, education, and 
                  information dissemination components in a practical and 
                  readily available manner so that the findings of the 
                  project will be made readily usable by farmers.
                      ``(C) The promotion of the efficient use of 
                  agricultural inputs, rather than the uniform reduction 
                  in the use of agricultural inputs.
                      ``(D) The maximization of the involvement and 
                  cooperation of precision agriculture producers, 
                  certified crop advisers, State cooperative extension 
                  services agents, and agricultural input machinery, 
                  product, and service providers in precision agriculture 
                  systems research projects involving on-farm research, 
                  education, and information dissemination of precision 
                  agriculture.
                      ``(E) The cooperation among farms that are managed 
                  using precision agriculture farm production practices, 
                  nonprofit organizations, agribusinesses, agricultural 
                  input machinery, product, and service providers, land-
                  grant colleges and universities, the State cooperative 
                  extension services, and Government agencies (including 
                  national laboratories).
                      ``(F) The benefits of precision agriculture in 
                  relationship to global food production, reducing world 
                  hunger, world population trends, and efforts to 
                  maintain and enhance the environment.
                      ``(G) The diversity of United States agricultural 
                  production, including production on family owned and 
                  operated farms, large acreage farms, small acreage 
                  farms, and mixed crop, specialty crop, commodity crop, 
                  and livestock operations.
                      ``(H) The maximization of collaboration with 
                  multiple agencies and other partners that includes 
                  leveraging of funds and resources.
              ``(4) Education and information dissemination.--
                      ``(A) Reservation of funds for projects.--Of the 
                  funds allocated for competitive research grants under 
                  subsection (b) related to precision agriculture, the 
                  Secretary shall reserve a portion of the funds for 
                  education and information dissemination projects 
                  regarding precision agriculture.
                      ``(B) Compliance with priorities for information 
                  dissemination.--In the dissemination of information 
                  derived from research projects regarding precision 
                  agriculture that are supported by grants made under 
                  subsection (b), the Secretary shall ensure that both 
                  employees of the Department of Agriculture and grant 
                  recipients comply with the priorities specified in 
                  paragraph (3).
              ``(5) Precision agriculture partnerships.--
                      ``(A) Establishment.--For the purposes of this 
                  section, the Secretary, in collaboration with the 
                  advisory board, shall encourage the establishment of 
                  appropriate multistate and national partnerships or 
                  consortia between--
                              ``(i) land-grant colleges and universities, 
                          State Agricultural Experiment Stations, State 
                          cooperative extension services, other colleges 
                          and universities with demonstrable expertise 
                          regarding precision agriculture, agencies of 
                          the Department of Agriculture, national 
                          laboratories, agribusinesses, agricultural 
                          equipment and input manufacturers and 
                          retailers, certified crop advisers, commodity 
                          organizations, other Federal or State 
                          government entities and agencies, and non-
                          agricultural industries and nonprofit 
                          organizations with demonstrable expertise 
                          regarding precision agriculture; and
                              ``(ii) the persons and entities described 
                          in clause (i) and agricultural producers and 
                          other land managers.
                      ``(B) Partnership between national laboratories and 
                  department of agriculture.--The partnerships 
                  established pursuant to this paragraph shall include 
                  the partnership entered into (before the date of the 
                  enactment of this paragraph) by the Secretary of 
                  Energy, on behalf of the national laboratories, and the 
                  Secretary of Agriculture to promote cooperation and 
                  coordination between the national laboratories and 
                  agencies of the Department of Agriculture in the areas 
                  of systems research, technology research and 
                  development, and the transfer, utilization, and 
  private-sector commercialization of technology.
                      ``(C) Role of partnerships.--Partnerships described 
                  in subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall be eligible grantees 
                  for conducting systems research (including on-farm 
                  research) regarding precision agriculture and precision 
                  agriculture technologies.
              ``(6) Special aspects of research grants.--As part of a 
          research project regarding precision agriculture that is funded 
          under subsection (b), the grant recipient shall agree, to the 
          extent practicable, to--
                      ``(A) study precision agriculture production 
                  systems that are located in areas that possess diverse 
                  crop, soil, climate, and physical characteristics;
                      ``(B) study farms that are or have been managed 
                  using precision agriculture farm production practices 
                  that rely on the efficient use of agricultural inputs 
                  and precision agriculture technologies to increase farm 
                  production efficiency, productivity, and profitability;
                      ``(C) conduct demonstration projects on farms that 
                  will be managed using precision agriculture;
                      ``(D) take advantage of the experience and 
                  expertise of agricultural producers through their 
                  direct participation and leadership in projects;
                      ``(E) utilize advanced access and communications 
                  technologies to transfer practical, reliable, and 
                  timely information to agricultural producers concerning 
                  precision agriculture practices, technologies, and 
                  systems; and
                      ``(F) promote partnerships among producers, 
                  nonprofit organizations, agribusinesses, agricultural 
                  input machinery, product, and service providers, 
                  colleges and universities, the State cooperative 
                  extension services, and Government agencies (including 
                  national laboratories).''.
      (b) Reporting Requirements.--Subsection (l) of the Competitive, 
  Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (section 2 of Public Law 89-
  106; 7 U.S.C. 450i) is amended to read as follows:
      ``(l) Reporting Requirements of Grant Recipients.--In addition to 
  the recordkeeping responsibilities of recipients of assistance under 
  this section, as prescribed by the Secretary under subsection (f), the 
  Secretary shall prescribe regulations to require grant recipients to 
  submit to the Secretary periodic reports regarding the research, 
  education, and information dissemination activities supported with the 
  assistance so as to enhance the usefulness of the monitoring and 
  evaluation system developed by the Secretary under section 1413A(b) of 
  the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act 
  of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3129(b)).''.
      (c) Entities Eligible for Grants.--Subsection (b)(1) of the 
  Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (section 2 of 
  Public Law 89-106; 7 U.S.C. 450i) is amended--
              (1) by inserting after ``Federal agencies'' the following: 
          ``(including laboratories as defined in section 12(d) of the 
          Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
          3710a(d)))''; and
              (2) by inserting after ``corporations'' the following: 
          ``(including agricultural input machinery, product, and service 
          providers)''.
      (d) Precision Agriculture Research, Extension, and Education, Under 
  Fund for Rural America.--Section 793(c)(2)(A) of the Federal 
  Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-127; 7 
  U.S.C. 2204f(c)(2)(A)) is amended--
              (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (vii);
              (2) by striking the period at the end of clause (viii) and 
          inserting ``; and''; and
              (3) by inserting after clause (viii) the following:
                              ``(ix) develop and promote precision 
                          agriculture and precision agriculture 
                          technologies using a systems research approach, 
                          as the terms are defined in subsection (k)(1) 
                          of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities 
                          Research Grant Act (section 2 of Public Law 89-
                          106; 7 U.S.C. 450i).''.
      (e) Technical Amendment.--Subsection (b)(9)(A) of the Competitive, 
  Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (section 2 of Public Law 89-
  106; 7 U.S.C. 450i) is amended by striking ``subsection (j)'' and 
  inserting ``subsection (k)''.
target: Precision Agriculture Research, Education, and Information Dissemination Act of 1996 - Amends the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act to emphasize competitive grants that promote precision agriculture (as defined by this Act) research projects and to promote dissemination of such projects' results. 
  Provides for the establishment of multistate and national agriculture partnerships, including existing partnerships between national laboratories (Secretary of Energy) and the Department of Agriculture. 
  Amends the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to include precision agriculture within the research categories of the Fund for Rural America.
feat_title: Precision Agriculture Research, Education, and Information Dissemination Act of 1996