Congressman Flood Testifies Before Ag Appropriations Subcommittee in Support of Precision Ag Research
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congressman Mike Flood testified before the House Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. During his testimony, Congressman Flood highlighted the growing partnership of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) at the National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture.
Video of the testimony can be found here and the text as prepared for delivery is below. News outlets are welcome to use the footage for their reporting purposes.
Chairman Harris, Ranking Member Bishop, members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to share exciting updates about an important project to my district and to the next generation of United States agriculture.
Specifically, I would like to call to your attention to, a project that should be very familiar to the Subcommittee, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture. This co-located facility at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and adjacent public-private ag-tech accelerator will anchor a national network comprised of ARS and land-grant universities committed to addressing one of the most critical science gaps to advancing innovation in American agriculture.
I want to begin by thanking the Subcommittee for their support of this project in the previous appropriations packages. I was extremely pleased to see the Subcommittee meet the full funding ask and recognize the important need for investments in cutting-edge agriculture. Now, we must keep up the momentum to secure significant construction funds in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 in light of prior continuing resolutions and as inflationary escalation costs continue to rise.
Congress appropriated $11.2 million for planning and design in FY 21, $20 million for construction in FY 22, $25 million for construction in FY 24, and an addition $16 million was included in FY25. The first phase of construction, slated to begin in Spring 2024, will build 15,000 square feet of greenhouse and 10,000 square feet of headhouse space and connect with the existing Greenhouse Innovation Center. The second phase of construction, which will commence when Congress appropriates all funds, will go towards constructing a 120,000-square-foot, four-story laboratory and office building on the Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln, Nebraska. ARS will utilize these new facilities for scientists and staff in the two existing Research Units on Agroecosystem Management and on Wheat, Sorghum, and Forage and two new research units on Water, Climate, and Resilience and on Precision Production. Ultimately, USDA expects to double its science and support staff presence in Lincoln at this new complex.
Last May, the University of Nebraska hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for Phase One of the National Center at the Nebraska Innovation Campus. USDA leadership, members of the Nebraska Congressional delegation, University leadership, stakeholders and producers across the state and region will be there in support of this new facility.
Precision agriculture is a key piece of Nebraska’s agricultural fabric, and it makes sense that this project has found its home in the Cornhusker State. A January 2024 GAO report showed Nebraska is at the forefront of utilization and adoption of precision ag technology and practices. The report showed Nebraska is second in nation in the use of precision agriculture practices by U. S. farms with 55% of Nebraska producers using precision ag tools.
I want to thank the Subcommittee for their past support. This was started by my predecessor, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, and it was very important to him. By virtue of his efforts and leadership on this, I wanted to continue this and see it through.
Thank you for the opportunity to present this matter to your Subcommittee.