Return to TFB Main Page
Return to Current Edition
Texas Agriculture Archive

June 7, 2002

USDA launches Farm Bill implementation site

USDA has launched a new website aimed at helping farmers, ranchers and the general public learn the latest information about the new farm bill.

The website can be directly accessed from USDA's official website at http://www.usda.gov/farmbill or by simply clicking on the 2002 Farm Bill icon on USDA's main website at http://www.usda.gov/. The 2002 Farm Bill icon will also appear on USDA agency websites.

The new website will include farm bill program details, questions and answers, program applications and sign-up forms, as well as other important materials from USDA agencies on farm bill implementation. The website will also contain advanced electronic applications to help program applicants receive program benefits faster and more efficiently.

The website will help farmers, ranchers and others locate information through one site rather than searching through web pages of the many agencies that make up USDA. Information will be indexed by farm bill title and by agency.

Information to be posted on the site over the next several weeks includes:

• A comparison of 1996 Farm Bill provisions and 2002 provisions prepared by the Economic Research Service;

• Fact sheets in English and Spanish that cover the changes in conservation programs administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service;

• Information from the Farm Service Agency on program details and instructions on how to calculate new yields;

• On-line applications and electronic forms to help make processing time more efficient.

The website will be updated regularly.