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 environment for emerging digital and AI-driven tools.

Bridging the Gap Between Lab and Land

For many producers, the rapid influx of high-tech solutions—from autonomous tractors to AI-crop sensors—has come with a lack of independent data. The NPG-Ag aims to change that by rigorously evaluating these technologies under the grueling conditions of actual U.S. farms and ranches.

“Innovation has been our competitive edge and ensured food security since the nation’s founding 250 years ago,” said Under Secretary Hutchins. “By establishing a coordinated national research network to objectively validate new and emerging technologies… we are helping ensure producers have access to reliable performance data for their investment decisions.”

North Dakota at the Helm

The choice of location for the announcement was no coincidence. Grand Farm, the North Dakota-based AgTech ecosystem, has been designated as the National Program Manager. It will also serve as the network’s first official proving ground.

The initiative is built upon a cooperative agreement between Grand Farm, North Dakota State University (NDSU), and the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Senator John Hoeven, a key architect of the funding behind the project, emphasized that the goal is to provide “certainty” to producers.

“When we provided an additional $2 million to establish an ARS work site at Grand Farm, USDA saw this as an opportunity to create a national network,” Senator Hoeven stated. “What this means for farmers – new technologies will be tested and proven to work in real-world conditions.”