State Senator Kevin Kinney (D) is hosting an event Thursday in Hills that will focus on educating legislators on precision agriculture. The group of bipartisan legislators includes representatives from both rural and urban areas, as well as members from the boards of supervisors from Washington, Johnson, and Keokuk counties. Kinney said the purpose is to inform his fellow representatives about how modern farming methods can better protect Iowa’s water and environment.

He explained, precision agriculture utilizes technology to prevent farmers from over-application of fertilizer, herbicide, and manure. As a farmer takes a sprayer to go around their field, the technology sets borders, prevents additional application to areas already covered, and ensures there’s no over-spraying. Kinney is hopeful the legislators in attendance will gain an increased understanding for what precision agriculture can do, and use that knowledge to aid in decision-making.