U.S. Department of Agriculture: Farm Agencies' Field Structure Needs Major Overhaul

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers its farm programs and services through one of the federal government's largest, most decentralized field structures. The structure reflects the era in which it was established-the 1930s when communication and transportation systems were greatly limited by geographic boundaries. Since then, the number of farmers has declined sharply, and telephones, computers, and highways have increased farmers' access to information and assistance programs. More recently, federal budget pressures have led to questions about the affordability of such decentralization. Yet, the basic USDA field structure has undergone few major adjustments. With the agricultural environment still changing and federal budget deficits increasing, GAO reviewed USDA's field structure to identify incremental and structural ways to improve its overall management. This report is one of a series of reports examining the management of USDA.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA266980

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