Dear American Agriculture Friends and Surety
® Online Mapping Subscribers,
As glad as we are that the 2008 Farm Bill is finally signed we hope it is not history!
We say this because Section 1619
was inserted without public hearing or debate during the conference committee process.
Section 1619 has to do with Information Gathering and (a) Geospatial Systems.
In short, it eliminates public access to Farm Service Agency, Common Land Unit (CLU) data (field borders).
As of May 23, 2008 new or updated CLU data is no longer available to the public.
We would like your assistance to get changes made to this bill that will allow the release of the CLU data back into the public domain. A Technical Corrections Bill or an amendment to the 2008 Farm Bill will be required to change section 1619 to allow public access to the CLU Data.
This seemed to start over a year ago when Multi Ag Media, LLC sued the Department of Agriculture, requesting
the release of USDA compliance data. On February 15, 2008 the U.S. Court of Appeals, DC ruled in favor of
Multi Ag Media, overturning a district court ruling under the Federal Freedom of Information Act and ordered the
release of USDA compliance data.
AgriData, Inc. is not interested in any compliance data and stands opposed to the USDA releasing it.
But, we are asking for your help to restore the public access of the CLU data with the following attributes: Field Boundary,
Acres, Tract Number, Farm Number, Field Number, Primary Classification of Land Unit Type, and Administrating County
and State Office. This will allow our business to continue to provide services for the agricultural industry.
We are asking that you contact your congressional delegation in Washington, farm organizations, your professional
organizations, and commodity groups to let them know your thoughts on Section 1619 of the Farm Bill. You may click on the
links below to learn more about Section 1619 of the 2008 Farm Bill and to contact your congressional delegation and
agricultural organizations.
Click this link to contact your congressional delegation.
Click this link to contact your professional organizations.
Thank you,
David A. Hagert
CEO
AgriData, Inc.
