The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) unveiled a plan to modernize the agency’s agricultural data collection.

“America’s farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our food and agricultural system, and USDA should respect their time while delivering the reliable information they need,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said.

The USDA Data Modernization Plan to Put Farmers First is designed to reduce unnecessary burdens on producers and improve the timeliness, accuracy and usefulness of the agricultural data that informs decisions across American agriculture, the agency said.

It builds on technological advancements already underway across USDA, including satellite-based crop monitoring, geospatial analysis, cloud-based platforms, improved online reporting tools and more coordinated use of existing administrative data.

USDA said it will also continue working with partners to evaluate new methods and strengthen the scientific foundation of its agricultural statistics.

USDA’s new plan is built around the following four pillars:

  • Modernize the Data Reporting Experience: USDA will expand use of administrative data, improve mobile access to surveys, explore opportunities to use prefilled information where appropriate, and strengthen coordination across the Department. These changes will reduce duplicative requests and limit the amount of time producers spend reporting information.
  • Enhance Acreage and Yield Estimation: USDA will conduct a pilot to evaluate the use of improved satellite imagery, geospatial tools, crop models, and other emerging technologies combined with essential producer-reported information to enhance acreage and yield estimations. USDA will also assess the use of optional field inputs to enhance and ground truth yield estimates and continue advancing yield research through collaboration with agricultural partners and land-grant universities.
  • Integrate Data and Technology Platforms: USDA will modernize its technology infrastructure, expand secure data-sharing capabilities, and evaluate the responsible use of tools such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. Better integrated systems will improve efficiency, reduce duplication, and allow USDA to produce more timely and useful information.
  • Expand Trust and Transparency with Producers: USDA will protect producer privacy, clearly explain why information is requested and how it is used, and create additional opportunities for producers to provide feedback. USDA will also improve communication surrounding reports, methodologies, response rates, and data limitations.

“While American agriculture and USDA look vastly different than they did in 1862, the need for timely, accurate and useful agricultural statistics remains constant,” said Kip Tom, special adviser for data modernization. “This plan brings USDA agencies together, breaks down outdated information silos and applies modern technology to provide producers and rural communities with better service. By improving how information is collected and shared, we can respond more quickly to challenges facing American agriculture.”
Read the full plan outline here.