(Washington D.C.) The “One Farmer, One File” initiative is a major modernization effort by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) designed to create a single, unified digital record for each farmer that can be used across all relevant USDA programs.
Richard Fordyce serves as the Under Secretary for the Farm Production and Conservation Mission Area at the United States Department of Agriculture, overseeing key agencies including the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation, and Risk Management Agency. Fordyce appeared before farm broadcasters at the National Farm Broadcasters Washington Watch on Tuesday. He addressed this movement of “One Farmer, One File.”
Second, their policy changes need to be reviewed to determine what adjustments are necessary to move toward the goal of one farmer, one file.
Richard Fordyce says the current system is not sustainable and needs a complete overhaul. He notes they have a partner who understands how these elements are interconnected and how they should communicate with one another. He adds that the various “boxes” on the lengthy chart are controlled by agencies such as the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation, and Risk Management Agency, but none of them communicate with each other.
Richard Fordyce says the modernization reporting component is currently being piloted in multiple counties nationwide, particularly in areas with low bandwidth.
Richard Fordyce says a meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, with manufacturers as part of this process, with the goal that—once the United States Department of Agriculture reaches the final stage—precision agriculture data, if authorized by the farmer, can be used to populate an acreage report, interact with the Risk Management Agency, and inform Natural Resources Conservation decisions.
Again, that is Richard Fordyce, Under Secretary for Farm protection, and conservation.
