Cortez Masto Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Access to Technology for American Farmers and Ranchers

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tedd Budd (R-N.C.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced a bill to increase access to AI technology in agriculture. The Fostering Agricultural Research and Modernization through Artificial Intelligence (FARM AI) Act would increase American competitiveness in the global market.

"Nevada's farmers and ranchers work hard every day to help American families put food on the table," said Senator Cortez Masto. "New artificial intelligence technology could help the agriculture industry cut costs, boost productivity, and expand U.S. competitiveness. That's why I'm proud to support bipartisan legislation to responsibly invest in this technology to help farmers and ranchers across the country."

Specifically, the FARM AI Act would expand funding for and access to AI in the agriculture industry by:

• Adding AI development as a Priority Research Area under the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative;
• Emphasizing AI as an Explicit Focus for Research under USDA's Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority;
• Ensuring USDA Extension provides outreach and education to farmers on the adoption and responsible use of AI systems;
• Expanding agricultural workforce training, including fellowships for food and agricultural sciences, to include AI and precision agriculture; and
• Nominating a senior USDA official to serve as the AI in Ag advisor to ensure grants and outreach programs are tailored to include AI development and implementation.

This bipartisan legislation is endorsed by the Nevada Cattlemen's Association (NCA) and the University of Nevada, Reno's College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources.

"American farmers and ranchers shouldn't be the last to benefit from the technologies shaping our future. The FARM AI Act modernizes USDA's outdated programs so our producers have the resources, research, and training to put AI to work in their operations. This is a smart investment in rural America's competitiveness and our nation's food security," said Martin Paris, Executive Director, NCA.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

Senator Cortez Masto is a strong supporter of Nevada's rural and agricultural communities. She and Senator Budd have also worked together on bipartisan legislation to combat cyberattacks targeting American agriculture. Cortez Masto is championing bipartisan legislation to protect rural water systems from natural disasters, to ban foreign adversaries from buying American farmland, and to encourage strategic grazing to reduce the risk of wildfires. She has also delivered millions in funding for Nevada's rural counties.

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