국가전략정보포털

Introduction 1

1 Background 2
1.1 Agricultural equipment 3
1.2 Precision agriculture technologies 4
1.3 Commercial entities and government agencies support the agricultural sector 10

2 Adoption of Currently Available Precision Agriculture Technologies Varies by Commodity and Technology and Emerging Technologies Focus on Automation
12
2.1 Precision agriculture technology adoption varies by commodity and technology 12
2.2 Many emerging precision agriculture technologies focus on automation and measurement of agricultural conditions 16

3 Several Federal Agencies Support Precision Agriculture Technology Adoption, R & D, Education, and Training 19
3.1 USDA supports precision agriculture technology adoption with financial assistance and loan programs 19
3.2 USDA and NSF support precision agriculture R&D 21
3.3 USDA and NSF provide precision agriculture education and training through Extension, service centers, and educational programs 26
3.4 Other federal precision agriculture efforts 28

4 Precision Agriculture Technologies Can Provide Benefits to Farmers and Society, but Challenges Limit Broader Adoption and Use 32
4.1 Precision agriculture technologies can benefit farmers, society, and the environment 32
4.2 Various challenges limit broader adoption and use of precision agriculture technology 37

5 Policy Options to Enhance Benefits and Address Challenges Associated with Precision Agriculture Technology Adoption and Use 43
5.1 Encourage greater adoption and use of precision agriculture technologies 43
5.2 Encouraging further innovation in precision agriculture technologies 48
5.3 Managing greater amounts of data generated by precision agriculture techonologies 52

6 Agenncy and Expert Comments 56

Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology 58
Appendix II: Federal Support Related to Precision Agriculture 62
Appendix III: Expert Participation 68
Appendix IV: GAO Contacts and Staff Acknowledgements 69