USDA Launches New Initiatives to Support Ranchers, Farmers

Grand Farm chosen as hub for new ag-tech initiative

WHEATLAND, N.D. — The goal is to improve profitability for farmers and ranchers in the United States, and Grand Farm has been chosen as the hub for a new ag-tech initiative. State and federal leaders, including Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., and Scott Hutchins, U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Research, Education and Economics, visited Grand Farm in Wheatland for the announcement on Tuesday, April 7. Wheatland is about 30 miles west …

USDA launches new initiatives to support ranchers, farmers

USDA’s Research, Education and Economics Under Secretary Dr. Scott Hutchins today announced the launch of the USDA National Proving Grounds Network for AgTech, a nationwide initiative designed to rigorously evaluate agricultural technologies under real-world U.S. farming and ranching conditions.

USDA Unveils National Proving Grounds Network to Modernize American AgTech

FARGO, N.D. – In a move aimed at securing the United States’ technological lead in global agriculture, Dr. Scott Hutchins, USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, officially announced the launch of the National Proving Grounds Network for AgTech (NPG-Ag) today at Grand Farm. The initiative marks a significant federal commitment to “de-risking” innovation for American farmers by providing a standardized, real-world testing en…

USDA Announces the Creation of the USDA National Proving Grounds Network to Strengthen U.S. Farm and Ranch Profitability

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. “Agricultural research in the United States has long supported the development of practical solutions that...

Grand Farm to lead USDA's National Proving Grounds Network for Ag Tech

WHEATLAND, N.D. — Grand Farm will serve as national program manager for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Proving Grounds Network for AgTech, U.S. Sen. John Hoeven announced on Tuesday, April 7. The initiative will help farmers and ranchers by testing ag technology in conditions that farmers and ranchers experience. The National Proving Grounds Network for AgTech will build upon the cooperative agreement among Grand Farm, North Dakot…

USDA Announces the Creation of the USDA National Proving Grounds Network

WASHINGTON — USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics Under Secretary Dr. Scott Hutchins today [April 7, 2026] 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. “Agricultural research in the United States has long supported the development of practical solutions that improv…