SAN ANTONIO, Texas – USDA Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins recently launched “One Farmer, One File,” an initiative that would create a single, streamlined record that follows producers throughout their participation in USDA programs, the agency said.

Rollins made the announcement at the Commodity Classic Convention in San Antonio, Texas, in February. “Every single day at the 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,” she said.

“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,” she added.

According to the agency, the USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Risk Management Agency work with agricultural producers on a wide range of programs and services, from establishing a farm number to reporting acres planted, and from getting capital to recovering from disasters.

The goal of One Farmer, One File is to reduce the administrative burden for farmers, the USDA said. In addition, this effort will make program delivery more efficient, save time for USDA staff, and decrease spending on disparate information technology systems. The USDA added it began working on this system in 2025, and plans to greatly advance the effort in 2026, anticipating fully completing the project in 2028.

Dave Walton, American Soybean Association vice president and Wilton, Iowa, farmer, said, “Farmers rely on the USDA’s support and technical assistance more than ever, but we also know firsthand how time-consuming paperwork and duplicative reporting requirements can be. The efficiencies implemented through this initiative will help reduce that burden and save precious time that can be spent in the field.”

Justin Robbins, a fourth-generation Scranton, Iowa, cattle producer, agreed. He told Farm World, “The new One Farmer, One File initiative is a step toward making USDA programs work better for farmers and cutting red tape. A single record across USDA programs means less paperwork, faster service, and more time for producers to focus on running their farms.”

Gary Blair, National Association of Conservation Districts president, said, “When application processes are simpler and records are unified, farmers and ranchers can spend less time on paperwork and more time implementing conservation systems that protect soil, water, air, and wildlife,” he said. “One Farmer, One File is a practical improvement that will strengthen conservation delivery nationwide.”

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, said, “Farmers and ranchers rely on the USDA for up-to-date resources to keep our businesses running, and our food supply secure. (The) announcement is welcome news to ensure farmers quickly receive the information and resources they need.

“At a time when farmers are facing a tough farm economy and rising pressures, we all count on the USDA to deliver the programs and support that will keep our farms moving forward,” he added. “Farmers and ranchers need to make every dollar and every minute count on the farm, and having an easier system to navigate USDA programs will free up farmers for the work of growing our nation’s food, fiber, and fuel.”