USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics Under Secretary Dr. Scott Hutchins today announced the launch of the USDA National Proving Grounds Network for AgTech (NPG-Ag), a nationwide initiative designed to rigorously evaluate agricultural technologies under real-world U.S. farming and ranching conditions.
The initiative has been designed to thoroughly test and validate both existing and emerging tools under real-world production conditions, ultimately providing farmers and ranchers with trusted, practical insights that they can rely upon when making technology-investment decisions.
The initiative will be spearheaded by USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS), working in coordination with other USDA research agencies. Grand Farm will serve as the USDA’s National Program Manager, alongside and-grant universities across the country that will serve as primary research and testing partners.
American farmers and ranchers are facing real pressures, and they need confidence that new technologies will deliver tangible value on the ground—whether through lower input costs, reduced labor demands, or greater overall efficiency. The NPG‑Ag delivers a targeted solution to this agricultural challenge, meeting today’s demands and preparing for tomorrow’s needs. This effort is designed to accelerate the U.S. farmer’s confidence to adopt innovations that improve profitability and strengthen the long-term resilience and competitiveness of American agriculture.
The NPG-Ag will also provide farmers with trusted, data-driven information on technology performance and economic return, helping reduce investment risk and support more informed decisions. Moreover, the network will support the collaborative development of emerging technologies so that U.S. farmers and ranchers are the first to benefit.
USDA news release
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