Bill > S1713

This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to establish a comprehensive data collection and analysis system within the Department of Agriculture (USDA) aimed at improving agricultural productivity, profitability, and ecological outcomes. The bill creates a new framework for collecting, analyzing, and sharing data about conservation and production practices, with a focus on understanding how these practices impact farm productivity, soil health, and ecosystem services. It authorizes the USDA to develop a secure data center that will collect voluntary data from producers, ensuring strict privacy protections and prohibiting the sale of individual producer information. The bill requires the USDA to integrate data from various agencies, analyze its impacts on agricultural practices, and make research findings publicly accessible. Additionally, the legislation mandates the development of internet-based tools to help producers access confidential farm-specific data and general information about conservation practices. The USDA must submit annual reports to Congress detailing the data collection efforts, analysis results, and planned activities. Importantly, the bill emphasizes that data provision and technical assistance are entirely voluntary for producers and will be conducted using existing USDA funds and authorities.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1713/all-info