H.R. 9686

119 HR 9686 IH: Fostering Agricultural Research and Modernization through Artificial Intelligence Act of 2026
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-07-14
 text/xml
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 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 9686  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   July 14, 2026   Mr. Nunn of Iowa  (for himself and  Mr. Davis of North Carolina ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Agriculture    A BILL
To increase access to artificial intelligence through programs of the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Fostering Agricultural Research and Modernization through Artificial Intelligence Act of 2026   or the   FARM AI Act of 2026  .
2.
Findings; sense of Congress
(a)
Findings
Congress finds that—
(1)
artificial intelligence has the potential—
(A)
to improve farm productivity and security;
(B)
to enhance decision-making in crop and animal systems management;
(C)
to develop precision technologies for the agriculture industry;
(D)
to reduce resource use;
(E)
to expand economic opportunities for small, medium, and family-run farms; and
(F)
to allow United States farmers to outcompete international competitors;
(2)
rural communities, agribusinesses, farmers, and the food supply chain benefit from technical assistance, education, and outreach to adopt artificial intelligence technologies; and
(3)
Federal guidance and coordination are needed to accelerate the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence in agriculture.
(b)
Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that, to support technology development, adoption, and workforce training, the Secretary of Agriculture should increase access to artificial intelligence through—
(1)
the programs and outreach efforts of the Department of Agriculture; and
(2)
collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
3.
Inclusion of artificial intelligence as priority area in Department of Agriculture research and extension programs
(a)
AFRI
Subsection (b)(2) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act ( 7 U.S.C. 3157(b)(2) ) is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (E)—
(A)
in clause (iv), by striking  and  at the end;
(B)
in clause (v), by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; and ; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(vi)
research, development, and implementation of artificial intelligence to enhance precision agriculture, farm management, crop production, resource management, cybersecurity, and weather monitoring.
  ; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:
(G)
Workforce development and technical training
Workforce development and technical training, including—
(i)
implementation of computing systems and artificial intelligence;
(ii)
precision agriculture adoption and usage; and
(iii)
machine maintenance.
 .
(b)
AgARDA
Section 1473H(b) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 ( 7 U.S.C. 3319k(b) ) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (2)—
(A)
in subparagraph (B)—
(i)
by inserting  and deployment  after  development ; and
(ii)
by inserting  artificial intelligence systems,  after  research tools, ; and
(B)
in subparagraph (C), by inserting  artificial intelligence systems,  after  research tools, ; and
(2)
in paragraph (5)—
(A)
in subparagraph (A), by striking  or  at the end;
(B)
in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; or ; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(C)
develop artificial intelligence solutions for farmers or ranchers.
 .
(c)
Cooperative extension
Section 2 of the Act of May 18, 1914 (38 Stat. 373, chapter 79;  7 U.S.C. 342 ), is amended by inserting  including artificial intelligence systems and data-driven agricultural management tools, and providing outreach and education to producers and rural communities on the adoption and use of such technologies,  after  practices or technologies in agriculture, .
(d)
Grants and fellowships for food and agricultural sciences education
Section 1417 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 ( 7 U.S.C. 3152 ) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
in paragraph (5), by striking  and  at the end;
(B)
in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; and ; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(7)
to design and implement workforce development and technical training programs for rural communities to teach—
(A)
the implementation of computing systems and artificial intelligence;
(B)
precision agriculture adoption and usage; and
(C)
machine maintenance.
 ; and
(2)
in subsection (c)—
(A)
in paragraph (1), by striking  and  at the end;
(B)
in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; and ; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(3)
applications for teaching enhancement projects that focus on workforce development and technical assistance education programs to develop and implement artificial intelligence systems and precision agriculture technologies.
 .
4.
Artificial Intelligence Agriculture Advisor
(a)
In general
Subtitle C of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 ( 7 U.S.C. 6941 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
237.
Artificial Intelligence Agriculture Advisor
(a)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Advisor
The term  Advisor  means the Artificial Intelligence Agriculture Advisor described in subsection (b).
(2)
State
The term  State  means—
(A)
each of the several States of the United States;
(B)
the District of Columbia; and
(C)
any territory of the United States.
(b)
Advisor
The Secretary shall designate a senior official from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to serve as the Artificial Intelligence Agriculture Advisor.
(c)
Duties
The Advisor shall—
(1)
encourage and promote, in each State, the adoption and use of artificial intelligence and digital agriculture technologies, including—
(A)
technical assistance and outreach;
(B)
workforce training and education;
(C)
adoption of precision agriculture tools;
(D)
data-driven farm management practices;
(E)
animal system management practices;
(F)
support for small farm enterprises in using artificial intelligence; and
(G)
any other activity relating to artificial intelligence in agriculture, as determined by the Secretary; and
(2)
in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, develop and implement national artificial intelligence standards for the agriculture sector.
(d)
Means of achieving
In carrying out subsection (c), the Advisor shall—
(1)
coordinate with the agencies and officials of the Department;
(2)
advise the Secretary on issues relating to artificial intelligence in agriculture;
(3)
ensure that the programs of the Department are updated to address best practices in artificial intelligence adoption;
(4)
conduct outreach to stakeholders and coordinate external partnerships to share best practices and offer technical assistance to agricultural producers;
(5)
facilitate interagency program coordination and develop tools for promoting artificial intelligence adoption;
(6)
coordinate networks of agricultural producers using artificial intelligence; and
(7)
collaborate with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and other Federal agencies, as needed.
 .
(b)
Conforming amendment
Section 296(b) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 ( 7 U.S.C. 7014(b) ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(11)
The authority of the Secretary to carry out section 237.
 .