Takeaways from the New FY 2024-2026 USDA Data Strategy

Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Chief Data Officer (CDO) released a new data strategy for fiscal years (FY) 2024 through 2026. The strategy replaces a similar document that the CDO published in FY 2021 and executed through FY 2023. The new strategy also provides insight into key areas of investment in advanced analytics and other technology areas that are planned at the USDA over the next three fiscal years. Today’s post provides a brief overview of those areas.

Data Governance

Although the USDA has already taken great strides toward establishing a governance structure for its data initiatives, the new strategy calls out continued investment in this area as a priority. According to the strategy, “investment will be driven by data leaders, especially the Assistant Chief Data Officers (ACDOs) at each Mission Area and Staff Office. These data leaders will promote best practices and frameworks across the Department to ensure USDA manages data effectively.” The role of the ACDOs partnering with the Chief Data Officer (CDO) will continue to evolve over the next three years, making them must visit officials for contractors seeking to develop business at the department.

Workforce

Like all other federal agencies, the USDA faces a shortfall in data-skilled employees. The department, therefore, will “continue investing in recruitment, retention, and upskilling efforts.”  Needless to say, the USDA is likely to continue struggling with the hiring of skilled persons, resulting in the need to rely on contracted expertise for its data initiatives.

Geospatial

The USDA uses geospatial technology extensively to track wildfires, crop production, and other agricultural processes. This is driving the integration of the Enterprise Geospatial Management Office into the Office of the Chief Data Officer, as well as “initiatives for the improved integration of geospatial data and products with the department’s Enterprise Data Analytics Platform and Toolset (EDAPT). The modernization of EDAPT is also on deck, with the intent being to utilize emerging technologies such as generative artificial intelligence to a much greater extent. Both the technical modernization and the inclusion of new technology will require investments that could benefit industry partners.

Advanced Analytics

Although the USDA already makes extensive use of advanced analytics, leadership wants to “further integrate data visualization and advanced analytics into a culture of decision-making.” This includes increasing the “number of enterprise analytics tools in EDAPT” and using cloud-based sandboxes to model EDAPT integration and test its effectiveness. The department also needs to assess the state of its network architecture to “allow the greatest access to data to the lowest appropriate level, with the goal of promoting data transparency and autonomy and the democratization of data.”

Growing the use of advanced analytics tools will undoubtedly require contractor support, both to assess the usefulness of the tools, to carry out their integration, and to train USDA personnel on their use. Cultivating data-centric operations is not simple, nor does it happen overnight. Industry will play an important role in the USDA’s ongoing implementation of its data strategy. In particular, small businesses should keep a finger on the pulse of developments.