Grand Farm to Host New Federal Agriculture Tech Initiative

North Dakota's Grand Farm will serve as the National Program Manager for the USDA's National Proving Grounds Network for AgTech.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 4:42am

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A bold, abstract painting featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circular patterns, and precise botanical spirals in earthy tones, conceptually representing the complex interconnected forces and structures of modern precision farming technology.A new federal initiative will leverage North Dakota's Grand Farm as a national hub for testing and validating the next generation of precision agriculture technologies.Wheatland Today

Senator John Hoeven announced that Grand Farm in Wheatland, North Dakota will serve as the National Program Manager for the USDA's new National Proving Grounds Network for AgTech (NPG-Ag). The initiative will test and validate new precision agriculture technologies under real farming conditions, building on an existing cooperative agreement between Grand Farm, North Dakota State University, and the USDA's Agricultural Research Service.

Why it matters

The NPG-Ag program will help accelerate the development and adoption of innovative agricultural technologies by providing a real-world testing ground. As the National Program Manager, Grand Farm will play a central role in driving progress in the precision agriculture sector, which is crucial for improving farm productivity and sustainability.

The details

The new NPG-Ag initiative will leverage Grand Farm's existing partnerships with North Dakota State University and the USDA's Agricultural Research Service. Grand Farm co-founder Brian Carroll stated that the program is 'focused on solving challenges in agriculture through technology and innovation' and that 'it really needs to be tested, validated and proven in the real world.' Senator Hoeven, who helped establish the initial cooperative agreement, said the program will give farmers 'certainty when they invest in the future of their operations' by thoroughly testing new technologies.

  • Grand Farm and the USDA's Agricultural Research Service have been working on this project for three years.
  • The cooperative agreement between Grand Farm, NDSU, and ARS was previously established and funded by Senator Hoeven.

The players

Grand Farm

A technology-focused agricultural research and development organization based in Wheatland, North Dakota that will serve as the National Program Manager for the USDA's new NPG-Ag initiative.

Senator John Hoeven

The U.S. Senator from North Dakota who announced the new USDA program and has helped establish the cooperative agreement between Grand Farm, NDSU, and ARS.

North Dakota State University (NDSU)

A public research university in Fargo, North Dakota that has been partnering with Grand Farm and the USDA's Agricultural Research Service on agricultural technology projects.

USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

The principal in-house research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, which has been collaborating with Grand Farm and NDSU on agricultural technology development and testing.

Brian Carroll

The co-founder of Grand Farm who discussed the organization's role in the new USDA NPG-Ag initiative.

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What they’re saying

“It's really focused on solving challenges in agriculture through technology and innovation. And that really needs to be tested, validated and proven in the real world.”

— Brian Carroll, Co-founder, Grand Farm

“With Grand Farm serving as both the National Program Manager and the first proving ground for this USDA initiative, North Dakota's technology ecosystem is front and center in efforts across the country to develop the next generation of precision ag technology.”

— Senator John Hoeven

“What this means for farmers – new technologies will be tested and proven to work in real-world conditions, giving our producers certainty when they invest in the future of their operations.”

— Senator John Hoeven

What’s next

The new USDA National Proving Grounds for AgTech program will officially launch in the coming months, with Grand Farm serving as the National Program Manager to oversee the testing and validation of emerging precision agriculture technologies.

The takeaway

The selection of Grand Farm to lead the USDA's new national agricultural technology initiative underscores North Dakota's growing prominence as a hub for innovation in the precision farming sector. This program will help accelerate the development and real-world deployment of cutting-edge tools and techniques to boost farm productivity and sustainability.