PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – The American Farm Bureau is supporting legislation to create a new research agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. South Dakota Farm Bureau President Scott VanderWal says the new Advanced Research Projects Agency-Terra would provide innovative technologies to increase economic opportunities for farmers.

VanderWal says this new research agency will work with other research arms of USDA to benefit agriculture.

The bill would also provide competitive funding to land grant universities for early stage research.

The new agency will enable the U.S. to develop technologies and put them in the hands of farmers to enhance export competitiveness, environmental sustainability and crop resilience to extreme weather.