Title 7, AgricultureRelease 119-110

§7031 Electronic Filing and Retrieval

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

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture must, within 180 days after June 20, 2000, set up an Internet system that lets farmers and ranchers get and use the forms from certain USDA offices. The system must let people download forms and send back completed ones by fax, mail, or similar electronic ways. The forms must be redesigned to be easier to use and include self-help guidance. The covered offices must use compatible computers and software and create shared web pages and apps for news, info, and program materials. Covered offices: Farm Service Agency; Natural Resources Conservation Service; rural development parts in the Secretary’s service center collocation effort; and the Commodity Credit Corporation’s agricultural producer programs run by FSA and NRCS. The Secretary must also report to Congress on progress within 180 days after June 20, 2000.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §7031

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

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)Applicability

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)Implementation

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)Progress reports

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

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110