Grand Farm to become National Program Manager for new USDA Agriculture tech program

WHEATLAND, N.D. — Big names in agriculture and government met at Grand Farm for a big USDA announcement, Tuesday, April 7.

Grand Farm will serve as National Program Manager for the department’s National Proving Grounds Network for Agriculture technology.

Under Secretary Dr. Scott Hutchins says it is a nationwide initiative designed to evaluate ag technologies under real-world farming and ranching conditions.

Grand Farm will lead engagement with technology companies looking to test new innovations and provide facilities and equipment to support testing.

“The adoption of technology, particularly as we move into the digital age, is going to be a gamechanger and allow farmers to produce their crops and their livestock more efficiently, with less labor perhaps, but at the end of the day with input reductions, so that we can increase the profitability and the bottom line to our farmers and ranchers,” said USDA Under Secretary Dr. Scott Hutchins.

Grand Farm will be the first proving ground in the network, and will be focused on weed control.