FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May15, 2002
USDA LAUNCHES FARM BILL IMPLEMENTATION WEBSITE
WASHINGTON, May 14, 2002 – The USDA recently 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 www.usda.gov/farmbill or by simply clicking on the 2002 Farm Bill icon on USDA's main website at www.usda.gov. The 2002 Farm Bill icon also appears on other USDA agency websites.
The new website includes 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 also contains advanced electronic applications to help applicants receive program benefits faster and more efficiently.
The website is designed to 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 is being indexed by farm bill title and by agency. Users will be able to access specific agency information through the site and easily return to the homepage by clicking on the Farm Bill 2002 logo located throughout USDA agencies' web pages.
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 as new information and program announcements become available. The "What's New" link will alert users to updates and added information.
For more information, contact Alisa Harrison - 202-720-4623 or Wayne Baggett - 202-720-2032.