Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 1.djvu/595

 PUBLIC LAW 105-185--JUNE 23, 1998 112 STAT. 569 (3) The provision of training and educational programs for State cooperative extension services agents, and other professionals involved in the production and transfer of integrated precision agriculture technology. (4) The development, demonstration, and dissemination of information regarding precision agriculture technologies and systems and the potential costs and benefits of precision agriculture as it relates to— (A) increased long-term farm production efficiencies, productivity, and profitability; (B) the maintenance of the environment; (C) improvements in international trade; and (D) an integrated program of education for agricultural / producers and consumers, including family owned and oper- / ated farms. (5) The promotion of systems research and education projects focusing on the integration of the multiple aspects of precision agriculture, including development, productionscale implementation, and farm production efficiencies, productivity, and profitability. (6) The study of whether precision agriculture technologies are applicable and accessible to small and medium-size farms and the study of methods of improving the applicability of precision agriculture technologies to those farms. (d) GRANT PRIORITIES.— In making grants to eligible entities under this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Board, shall give priority to research, education, or information dissemination projects designed to accomplish the following: (1) Evaluate the use of precision agriculture technologies using a systems research approach to increase long-term sitespecific and whole-farm production efficiencies, productivity, and profitability. (2) Integrate research, education, and information dissemination components in a practical and readily available manner so that the findings of the project will be made readily usable by agricultural producers. (3) Demonstrate the efficient use of agricultural inputs, rather than the uniform reduction in the use of agricultural inputs. (4) Maximize the involvement and cooperation of precision agriculture producers, certified crop advisers. State cooperative extension services agents, agricultural input machinery, product and service providers, nonprofit organizations, agribusinesses, veterinarigms, Isuid-grant colleges gmd universities, and Federal agencies in precision agriculture systems research projects involving on-farm research, education, and dissemination of precision agriculture information. (5) Maximize collaboration with multiple agencies and other partners, including through leveraging of funds and resources. (e) MATCHING FUNDS. —The amount of a grant under this section to an eligible entity (other than a Federal agency) may not exceed the amount that the eligible entity makes available out of non-Federal funds for precision agriculture research and for the establishment gind maintenance of facilities necessary for conducting precision agriculture research. (f) RESERVATION OF FUNDS FOR EDUCATION AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION PROJECTS. —Of the funds made available for grants

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