IBM says it’s one of the five businesses selected by the USDA’s Farm Production and Conservation Mission Area to provide support for USDA’s digital modernization efforts. Four other businesses were also selected to receive large business awards, with the combined worth of those five awards at $620 million paid out for work that’ll be completed over the next five years. More than 30 vendors competed for the five awards. IBM will help work with the Mission Area to help modernize legacy applications that support the conservation programs administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Farm Service Agency. “Technology has incredible potential to transform the way governments serve citizens and accomplish critical missions,” says Jay Bellissimo, General Manager of IBM’s U.S. Public Sector and Federal Market. “Our team is ready to modernize applications to help FPAC deliver modernized systems that assist the conservationists in helping farmers and ranchers reduce soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat, and reduce damage caused by natural disasters.” The award is a part of the more than 90-year working history between IBM and USDA. The two have worked on other projects with FPAC, as well as the forest service, the Food Safety and Inspection Service, and the Agricultural Marketing Service.