Title 7 — AgricultureRelease 119-73

§7031 Electronic filing and retrieval

Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 98— - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE REORGANIZATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER X— - FREEDOM TO E-FILE › § 7031

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture must, no later than 180 days after June 20, 2000, create an online system so farm producers can get the forms from certain USDA agencies as much as possible. The agencies covered are the Farm Service Agency; the Natural Resources Conservation Service; the rural development parts included in the Secretary’s service center initiative under section 6915; and the agricultural producer programs of the Commodity Credit Corporation run by FSA and NRCS. The system must let producers download forms and return finished forms by fax, mail, or similar ways. Forms must be redesigned to be easier to use and include self-help tips. The agencies must use compatible computers and software and build shared web pages and apps to bring their news, info, and program materials together. The Secretary must give Congress a progress report by the same 180-day deadline.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §7031

Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Not later than 180 days after June 20, 2000, in accordance with subsection (c), the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this subchapter as the “Secretary”) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, establish an Internet-based system that enables agricultural producers to access all forms of the agencies of the Department of Agriculture (referred to in this subchapter as the “Department”) specified in subsection (b).

(b)The agencies referred to in subsection (a) are the following:

(1)The Farm Service Agency.

(2)The Natural Resources Conservation Service.

(3)The rural development components of the Department included in the Secretary’s service center initiative regarding State and field office collocation implemented pursuant to section 6915 of this title.

(4)The agricultural producer programs component of the Commodity Credit Corporation administered by the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

(c)In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(1)provide a method by which agricultural producers may—

(A)download from the Internet the forms of the agencies specified in subsection (b); and

(B)submit completed forms via electronic facsimile, mail, or similar means;

(2)redesign the forms by incorporating into the forms user-friendly formats and self-help guidance materials; and

(3)ensure that the agencies specified in subsection (b)—

(A)use computer hardware and software that is compatible among the agencies and will operate in a common computing environment; and

(B)develop common Internet user-interface locations and applications to consolidate the agencies’ news, information, and program materials.

(d)Not later than 180 days after June 20, 2000, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that describes the progress made toward implementing the Internet-based system required under this section.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 7031

Title 7 — Agriculture

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73