Farm Records Can Move Counties, Thanks to a Federal Form
Published Date: 10/28/2026
Notice
Summary
Farm owners and operators can ask to move their farm records to a different county office when things change, like moving homes or new roads making another office easier to reach. The Farm Service Agency is updating the form and wants your feedback by December 28, 2026. This helps keep farm info accurate and easy to manage without extra costs or delays.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Move Your Farm Records Between Counties
You, as a farm owner or operator, can ask the Farm Service Agency to transfer the administration of your farm records to a different county office for reasons such as a change in your principal dwelling, a change in how the land is operated, construction of a new highway making another office easier to reach, or an FSA county office closure. FSA estimates 7,407 total annual responses, with an average of 0.167 hours per response and 1,237 total annual burden hours for this collection.
Electronic Submission Option Added
FSA is establishing an electronic method for customers to submit requests to transfer farm records as part of the "One Farmer, One File" initiative; the form FSA-179 is available on the USDA e-Forms website or may be completed in person. The electronic submission method and its associated responses and burden hours are included in the information collection estimate.
Signature Requirement for Transfers
All owners and the operator of the farm being transferred are required to sign Form FSA-179 to document agreement with the request; the form can be completed face-to-face with county office personnel or at home and submitted to FSA. This signature requirement is part of the process for transferring records.
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