During her recent speech at Commodity Classic, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins unveiled a bold new USDA initiative aimed at slashing bureaucratic red tape and clearing the way for farmers to file paperwork faster and easier than ever.
“I’m excited to announce officially USDA’s “One Farmer, One File” initiative, which creates a single, streamlined record that follows you, the farmer, no matter where you go in the USDA system,” according to Secretary Rollins.
She says the initiative will update USDA’s tech services in order to bring together all Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Risk Management Agency (RMA) systems to interface with each other and make it easier for USDA staff to get the information they need to provide better assistance for America’s farmers.
“I was sort of stunned—I had heard that this was the case, that USDA, perhaps, was not the most modern system in terms of moving paperwork and getting support out the door. But, seeing it firsthand was a real wake-up call to me.”
She said the streamlining of USDA’s computer software systems doesn’t mean that the department is forcing farmers to fill out all their USDA forms online.
“This is not a mandate to digitize,” said Rollins. “We’re not telling you we’re moving everything to your phone or your computer at home, but instead, it is an expansion of options for our farmers.”
“Producers who prefer to sit down in person with their county office, who want paper forms, or who rely on in-person acreage certification, will always have those options. What we are doing, in addition to that, is adding a modern, digital pathway for those who want it,” said Rollins.
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