Department of Agriculture: Restructuring will Impact Farm Service Agencies' Automation Plans and Programs.
Abstract
This General Accounting Office report discusses possible implications that proposed restructuring of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would have on its agencies' information technology plans. Because of the Committee's interest in identifying ways to more efficiently serve the needs of rural America and conserve federal resources, the report focuses on four USDA agencies that provide service to the farm sector--Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS), Farmers Home Administration (FmHA), Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), and Soil Conservation Service (SCS). History has shown that the farm service agencies' information technology investments have not always provided the expected improvements. We have identified specific instances where an agency acquired computer equipment and developed information systems without fully considering how information could best be used within the agency or by the other farm service agencies. This hearing then comes at an opportune time for two reasons. First, over the next 5 years, the farm service agencies plan to spend about $2 billion upgrading, operating, and maintaining the information technology used to support their programs. At the same time, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Congress are exploring ways to streamline USDA's field structure. Changes to this field structure will have significant implications for the farm service agencies' information technology modernization plans and could require a complete reevaluation of the field offices' technology needs. (KAR) P. 2
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 30, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA297333
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office