NEWS RELEASE

NACD Applauds USDA’s “One Farmer, One File” Initiative to Streamline Conservation Delivery

Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) applauds the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) launch of the “One Farmer, One File” initiative, a modernization effort designed to streamline producer interactions across USDA agencies and reduce administrative burdens for America’s farmers and ranchers.

Announced by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins at Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas, the initiative will combine records across USDA, creating a single, streamlined file that follows producers throughout their participation in USDA programs.

For conservation districts and the producers they serve, this modernization represents an important step toward making it easier to plan, apply for, and implement locally led, voluntary conservation practices on working lands.

“Conservation districts work hand-in-hand with producers every day to put conservation on the ground,” said NACD President Gary Blair. “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. ‘One Farmer, One File’ is a practical improvement that will strengthen conservation delivery nationwide.”

Navigating multiple systems and duplicative reporting requirements has often created unnecessary hurdles for producers seeking to access conservation and risk management programs.

For conservation districts, which serve as local partners in delivering NRCS programs and providing technical support, streamlined data systems will enhance collaboration and allow conservation planners to more efficiently develop and implement conservation plans tailored to producers’ operations.

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About the National Association of Conservation Districts: 

The National Association of Conservation Districts is the nonprofit organization that represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts, their state and territory associations and the 17,000 individuals who serve on their governing boards. For 90 years, local conservation districts have worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. For more information about NACD, visit: www.nacdnet.org.