WASHINGTON – Legislation by Bowling Green Republican Rep. Bob Latta would require the Federal Communications Commission to examine how it can facilitate using satellites that orbit the earth for precision agriculture on the ground.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved Latta’s bill on Monday.
Precision agriculture applies information-age technologies to farming. Its current techniques include using images from satellites to help farmers make decisions on water and fertilizer use, and when to plant and harvest crops. Farmers also use Global Positioning System (GPS) data from satellites to control their tractors and other farm equipment.
Latta predicted that if his bill becomes law, it will enhance farm operations throughout the country. The House of Representatives approved a version of the bill in 2023, but the U.S. Senate did not take it up.
“Farmers in Ohio’s Fifth District know that in order to continue producing high-yield crops, they need access to 21st Century technology,” said a statement Latta made when he reintroduced the bill.
Past legislation by Latta, which was wrapped into the 2018 Farm Bill, required the FCC to form a precision agriculture task force that focused on providing broadband to rural areas.
“I’m committed to ensuring our farmers have the tools needed at their disposal to help increase productivity while minimizing costs,” Latta said in a House of Representatives floor speech. “This legislation is a good step forward in that mission.”
Democratic U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey also delivered a speech supporting Latta’s bill. He said the bill would instruct the FCC to report its findings to Congress. If changes are necessary, the FCC would be required to develop recommendations for implementing them.
“With this legislation, we ensure that the FCC and its satellite rules are enabling technological advances in the important area of precision agriculture as much as possible,” said Pallone.
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