NORFOLK, Neb. -- U.S. Senator Deb Fischer hosted a roundtable at Northeast Community College discussing her Precision Agriculture Loan, or PAL, Act, and the future of precision agriculture.

Precision farming is the science of improving crop fields by using high-end technology.

The roundtable allowed different groups in the farming community to join together and weigh the impact precision agriculture will have on the future of farming.

"There's so much technology out there that would help make farmers and ranchers more efficient, much better stewards of the land, and conservationists," Fischer said. "They can build on what they have already."

Although precision farming will boost economic growth for farmers; its initial implementation will require upgraded software, machinery, and bandwidth.

The federal government is expected to give about $200 million to Nebraska to help bring additional bandwidth to under- or non-served communities.

Fischer said her legislation will also help smaller agriculture operations financially transition to precision agriculture with lower interest loans.

"To make those bigger investments, we want to have it available for all farmers and ranchers to be able to at least access the equipment that right now just a lot of the big guys can do," said Senator Fischer

While in Norfolk, Fischer received a tour of the college's new farm operations and large animal handling facility.

The roundtable also included new opportunities for students as companies offered potential internships.

"I mean how exciting for a young person to be able to know that they are going to be involved not just in the current technology but planning for the future," said Senator Fischer. "That they are going to be involved in watching AI be able to work in a combine here in the state of Nebraska."

Fischer said the next generation of farmers will bridge a worker shortage gap to help continue the multi-billion dollar agriculture economic engine of Nebraska.

She said she hopes to get the PAL Act on the Farm bill in the next year.

"When ag does well, the state of Nebraska does well," Fischer said.