By Scout Nelson
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin recently visited South Dakota State University (SDSU) to learn more about how the school is driving the future of precision agriculture. His visit highlighted the important role the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences plays in making technology accessible to farmers.
Zeldin praised the university for its efforts, saying it was encouraging to see how SDSU is educating future farmers and ensuring a strong food supply for the nation. His tour included the Raven Precision Agriculture Center, where he viewed projects ranging from long-used yield maps and application tools to new innovations like robotic herbicide sprayers, drone scouting, and virtual fencing. All of these are designed to help farmers improve efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen profitability.
SDSU became the first U.S. university to offer a bachelor’s degree in precision agriculture and continues to lead research in this area. University leaders explained that as a land-grant institution, their duty is to conduct research, teach students, and share results with communities to benefit farmers across the state and beyond.
During the visit, SDSU President Barry Dunn, faculty, and department heads joined the discussion. Joe Cassady, South Dakota Corn Endowed Dean of Agriculture, emphasized the importance of the university’s mission and welcomed the opportunity to showcase its impact.
U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson also joined the tour and highlighted the real-world benefits of precision agriculture. He explained that this technology is already helping farmers increase profits and could allow corn yields to double in the next 25 years.
The visit left attendees optimistic about the future of precision agriculture. It confirmed that South Dakota State University remains a leader in agricultural innovation, preparing both students and farmers to face the challenges of tomorrow with smarter tools and solutions.
Photo Credit: south-dakota-state-university
Categories: South Dakota, Education