USDA Announces 'One Farmer, One File' System For American Producers

New initiative aims to streamline interactions between farmers and multiple USDA agencies.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 4:31am

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U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins announced a modernization effort called 'One Farmer, One File' that will create a single, unified record for each farmer to reduce paperwork and administrative burdens while improving customer service. The initiative will integrate systems across the USDA's Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Risk Management Agency, retiring legacy technology and eliminating duplication.

Why it matters

The new 'One Farmer, One File' system is intended to make it easier and more efficient for American farmers to interact with the USDA, which oversees critical programs and services that support the agricultural industry. Streamlining these processes could save farmers time and money while also reducing long-term IT costs for the government.

The details

The 'One Farmer, One File' initiative will create a single, unified record for each farmer that follows them across multiple USDA agencies. This is meant to reduce paperwork and administrative burdens on producers while improving customer service. The effort will integrate existing systems at the USDA's Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Risk Management Agency, and also retire legacy technology systems, eliminate duplication, and reduce long-term information technology costs.

  • Work on the modernization began in 2025.
  • More customer-facing adjustments are planned for 2026.
  • USDA anticipates the implementation to be completed in 2028.

The players

Brooke L. Rollins

U.S. Agriculture Secretary who announced the 'One Farmer, One File' initiative.

USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees critical programs and services that support the American agricultural industry.

Farm Service Agency (FSA)

A USDA agency that will be integrating its systems as part of the 'One Farmer, One File' initiative.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

A USDA agency that will be integrating its systems as part of the 'One Farmer, One File' initiative.

Risk Management Agency (RMA)

A USDA agency that will be integrating its systems as part of the 'One Farmer, One File' initiative.

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What they’re saying

“Every single day at USDA, our focus is on making life easier, more profitable, and more rewarding for the American farmer. Our government for the people by the people should be modern, efficient, and respect taxpayer dollars. This modernization of old, duplicative, wasteful systems has one goal in mind, improve our customer service so the people we serve are able to farm and feed America and the world.”

— Brooke L. Rollins, U.S. Agriculture Secretary

The takeaway

The 'One Farmer, One File' initiative is a significant modernization effort by the USDA to streamline how farmers interact with the agency and its various programs. By integrating legacy systems and eliminating duplication, the USDA aims to reduce administrative burdens on producers and improve overall customer service, ultimately supporting the American agricultural industry.