The Coalition for the Advancement of Precision Agriculture (CAPA) announced its official launch and Precision Ag Forum, taking place Sept. 18 in Washington, D.C.

Comprised of trade associations and organizations representing a diverse range of sectors within the agriculture industry, CAPA will serve as a voice for the benefits of precision agriculture technology.

CAPA will be led by its co-chairs Daren Coppock, president and CEO, Agricultural Retailers Association; Dale Moore, executive director of public policy, American Farm Bureau Federation; and Jay Vroom, president and CEO, CropLife America.

The full roster of founding member organizations includes: AgGateway, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Seed Trade Association, Agricultural Retailers Association, Association of Equipment Manufacturers, CropLife America, Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, The Fertilizer Institute, National Agricultural Aviation Association and PrecisionAg Institute.

The coalition will seek to increase awareness of the productivity improvements and sustainability enhancements provided through precision agriculture practices and technologies, including variable rate technology, guidance systems and soil testing and monitoring.

The coalition will work to communicate the benefits surrounding these technologies to Capitol Hill and other key policymakers.

“Precision agriculture technologies can play a major role in helping growers further their sustainability efforts through increasingly efficient use of inputs and resources,” noted Coppock. “Through a unified voice with CAPA, this coalition can help communicate those benefits to regulators and legislators.”

Moore added, “With the use of tools such as GPS technology and auto-steer, U.S. farmers and ranchers can be more efficient and productive than ever. This will be critical in meeting the growing global food demand.”

The kick-off Precision Ag Forum will include a panel discussion featuring growers and leaders in the realms of agricultural equipment, crop input and conservation. Panelists will discuss their perspectives on precision agriculture, results observed or achieved through their usage of precision agriculture technologies and a personal forecast for what they see for precision agriculture in the future.

“The adoption of precision agriculture practices creates an opportunity for growers to improve efficiency on a large scale,” concluded Vroom. “We look forward to working with regulators and policymakers to discuss the economic and sustainability benefits this means for growers. CAPA is pleased to share this important story in Washington, D.C.”