On May 23, 2012, the White House released the Federal Digital Strategy aimed at building a 21st century government provides open data and digital services to the American people and its employees.
As part of our Digital Strategy, USDA has identified several first-move candidates that can be improved to meet the call for web APIs and mobile optimized services by May 23, 2013.
We’d like your input in deciding which two candidates in each category we will commit to completing by OMB’s May 23, 2013 deadline. We’d love to hear your feedback – which of these candidates would be most useful to you? What should we consider when creating web APIs and optimizing for mobile? Did we miss anything?
We have identified the following first-move candidates to make available as web Application Programming Interfaces (APIs):
Name: World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates
Description: Provides USDA's comprehensive forecasts of supply and demand for major U.S. and global crops and U.S. livestock. The report gathers information from a number of statistical reports published by USDA and other government agencies, and provides a framework for additional USDA reports.
Main Customers: Government, Business, Media, Education Institutions, Consumers
Name: National Farmers Market Directory
Description: Agricultural Marketing Service-produced directory containing information about U.S. farmers market locations, directions, operating times, product offerings, and accepted forms of payment. Supports local and regional food systems, as well as development of local economies.
Main Customers: Consumers, Business, Community leaders
Name: List of Disaster Counties
Description: Farm Service Agency list of Counties with a specific disaster designation.
Main Customers: Producers, Farmers, Government, Media
Name: Office Information Profile System
Description: USDA Service Centers are designed to be a single location where customers can access the services provided by the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Rural Development agencies. This tool provides the address of a USDA Service Center and other Agency offices serving your area along with information on how to contact them.
Main Customers: Government, Business, Public
Name: SNAP Retailer Locator information
Description: Find a retailer welcomes Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Electronic Benefits Transaction (EBT) customers. Currently available as an interactive map with geocoded information available by download as a .CSV file. Locations updated monthly
Main Customers: Public
The following list includes high-value USDA service candidates to potentially be optimized for mobile use:
Name: Meat, Poultry and Egg Product Inspection Directory
Description: The Meat, Poultry and Egg Product Inspection Directory is a listing of establishments that produce meat, poultry, and/or egg products regulated by USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) pursuant to the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act. Directory is updated monthly.
Main Customers: Business, Industry, Government, Consumers
Name: USDA Newsroom
Description: The USDA Newsroom holds official news releases, statements, transcripts and speeches released by the Department.
Main Customers: Government, Public, Media
Name: USDA Blog
Description: The Blog features content from all USDA agencies and features the latest news, events and features. The Blog also provides the public an opportunity to ask questions or share their thoughts about the latest issues.
Main Customers: Government, Public, Media
Name: AmberWaves eZine
Description: As the Economic Research Service’s (ERS) flagship publication, Amber Waves provides a window into ERS research through highly readable articles geared to educated but non-specialized audiences. Amber Waves covers important issues on U.S. markets & trade, diet & health, resources & environment, rural issues in easy to digest articles, with comprehensive links to ERS website for more details.
Main Customers: Government, Media, Researchers, Education Institutions
Name: Office Information Profile System
Description: USDA Service Centers are designed to be a single location where customers can access the services provided by the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Rural Development agencies. This tool provides the address of a USDA Service Center and other Agency offices serving your area along with information on how to contact them.
Main Customers: Government, Business, Public
