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Open Recommendations

Conservation Reserve Program: Improving How USDA Selects Land Could Increase Environmental Benefits

GAO-24-106311
Sep 25, 2024
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4 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Farm Service Agency The Administrator of USDA's FSA should build on existing efforts by incorporating, in a timely manner and as appropriate, reliable science-based information from models or other sources into the agency's methods for assigning points that are used to select offers for CRP. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Farm Service Agency The Administrator of USDA's FSA should develop a process to periodically review its methods for selecting offers for CRP. Such a process should specify the frequency of the reviews and include soliciting and publicly reporting on suggestions from experts, including non-USDA scientists and economists. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Farm Service Agency The Administrator of USDA's FSA should address any findings resulting from its periodic reviews to enhance its methods for selecting offers for CRP, as appropriate. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Farm Service Agency The Administrator of USDA's FSA should annually analyze information on environmental benefits by type of enrollment and for the entire program, and publicly report the information, such as on its website. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Charitable Food Assistance: USDA Can Enhance Guidance and Improve Program Performance Assessment

GAO-24-106539
Sep 23, 2024
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5 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure that the Food and Nutrition Service document and implement a process to provide and routinely update consolidated and user-friendly TEFAP program guidance for states and local agencies on the FNS website. For example, this could be a program handbook or a consolidated list of pertinent program guidance. (Recommendation 1)
Open
USDA generally agreed with this recommendation. We will monitor the agency's efforts to implement it.
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure that FNS document and implement a process to provide and routinely update consolidated and user-friendly CSFP program guidance for states and local agencies on the FNS website. For example, this could be a program handbook or a consolidated list of pertinent program guidance. (Recommendation 2)
Open
USDA generally agreed with this recommendation. We will monitor the agency's progress in implementing it.
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure that FNS, in coordination with the Agricultural Marketing Service, document and implement a plan with measurable goals and timeframes to streamline the process for resolving USDA Foods delivery issues and complaints. This could include streamlining the escalation process for delivery issues and proactively communicating complaint status updates with recipient agencies. (Recommendation 3)
Open
USDA generally agreed with this recommendation. We will monitor the agency's efforts to address it.
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure that FNS develop and implement a program performance assessment system for TEFAP, beginning with setting measurable program performance goals and measures. In developing goals and measures, FNS should consider the types of data and information that could be useful for future evaluations. (Recommendation 4)
Open
USDA generally agreed with this recommendation. The agency noted that it may need additional funding to collect data to support performance goals and measures for these programs. We will monitor the agency's progress to address this recommendation.
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure that FNS develop and implement a program performance assessment system for CSFP, beginning with setting measurable program performance goals and measures. In developing goals and measures, FNS should consider the types of data and information that could be useful for future evaluations. (Recommendation 5)
Open
USDA generally agreed with this recommendation. We will monitor the agency's efforts to address this recommendation.

Rural Development: Actions Needed to Improve Assistance to Southwest Border Communities Known as Colonias

GAO-24-106732
Sep 19, 2024
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3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure that the Rural Housing Service Administrator develops and implements procedures for identifying and recording whether applications for Single Family Housing programs are for properties in colonias. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure that the Rural Housing Service Administrator uses data to track the extent to which Single Family Housing programs serve colonias and to inform its management of the programs. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Congress Given population growth in the Southwest, Congress should consider revising the statutory requirement that, in order to be a colonia eligible for the CDBG set-aside, an identifiable community be located within an MSA with a population of 1 million or less. (Matter for Consideration 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Emergency Relief Program 2022: FSA Should Publicly Report Progress in Issuing Payments

GAO-24-107345
Sep 10, 2024
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Farm Service Agency The Administrator of FSA should update the public Emergency Relief Program dashboard to include the status of ERP 2022 payments and continue to update the dashboard as FSA issues additional payments.
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

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