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New USDA technology could streamline acreage reporting
The USDA is rolling out a pilot program designed to modernize acreage reporting and improve its efficiency for ag producers.
Undersecretary Richard Fordyce says counties in 11 states are using the technology to report data ahead of the July 15th deadline. “When you come in to do your acreage report, we’ll have that geo-special map up on the monitor. It will be an interactive map and the staff there in the local office can help you navigate that and they’ll be there step-by-step.”
The following counties are included: Tift County, Georgia, Union County, Kentucky, all counties in Maryland and North Dakota, Van Buren Couty, Michigan, La Qui Parle County, Minnesota, Harrison County, Missouri, Seward County, Nebraska, Canadian County, Oklahoma, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and Fischer County, Texas.
He tells Brownfield the system is a foundational piece of the Administration’s One Farmer One File effort to create a consistent and customer-focused experience. “What it does for time savings for the producer who is doing the acreage report and also time savings for staff in the county office and the time it takes to take an acreage report and generate that 578 that we all know is that completed acreage report.”
Fordyce says there are two other phases that will be implemented. “We’ll give the producer the opportunity to submit the acreage report by their phone or other digital device. Then, phase 3, will give farmers the opportunity, if they chose to, submit precision ag data to populate that acreage report.”
And, he says, “With this new technology, it will be a more accurate report. We also think that we’ll have more timely reported acreage because of the option for farmers to do that from their phone or other device.”
Fordcye says he expects the program to be fully implemented across the U.S. in time for the July 15, 2027, reporting deadline.
