Implementing the Agricultural Systems Initiative

USDA has experienced significant problems with its IT systems that support the delivery of benefits programs to farmers. As part of USDA's strategy to address these problems, USDA is proposing to modernize its delivery systems, through an initiative referred to as Modernize and Innovate the Delivery of Agricultural Systems (MIDAS). Our work has shown the following:

• USDA has not adequately assessed the cost and schedule of its proposed investment in MIDAS. As a result, it is uncertain whether the department will be able to deliver this modernization initiative within the cost and time frames it proposed.

  Highlights of GAO-08-657 (PDF)

^ Back to topWhat Needs to Be Done

USDA’s top information officers should work together to fully assess the department’s investment in MIDAS, including establishing effective and reliable cost estimates using industry best practices and establishing a realistic and reliable implementation schedule for MIDAS.

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Information Technology

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