The Agriculture Department will reopen about 2,100 county offices all across the country Thursday despite the ongoing government shutdown to help farmers and ranchers get access to $3 billion of aid from existing programs.
The USDA said each Farm Service Agency office will have two workers who will be paid even though the government remains shutdown. These offices help farmers apply for farm loans, crop insurance, disaster aid, and other programs. Thousands of other federal employees like air traffic controllers are working without pay during the shutdown.
A USDA spokesperson indicated that this decision reflects President Trump’s commitment to supporting farmers and ranchers, who have historically been his strong supporters. However, some farmers have recently expressed dissatisfaction with Trump’s policies, although his support remains predominant in rural America.
Just this week, ranchers were unhappy with Trump’s plan to import more beef from Argentina, as it could potentially harm their profits. Earlier this month, soybean farmers complained that a $20 billion aid package for Argentina permitted that country to sell soybeans to China. Many farmers are still awaiting details regarding an aid package Trump promised to help them cope with consequences from the trade war with China, which has also been put on hold due to the ongoing shutdown.
“President Trump will not let the radical left Democrat shutdown impact critical USDA services while harvest is underway across the country,” the USDA spokesperson noted. A White House official has communicated that funds allocated from the Commodity Credit Corporation, a USDA agency that addresses agricultural prices, will be utilized for this purpose.
Republicans such as Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley and North Dakota Senator John Hoeven have commended this move, with associations like the National Corn Growers Association and the Illinois Soybean Association expressing their approval. Conversely, Democrats have accused the administration of manipulating farmers’ conditions for political leverage amid the shutdown. The deadlock over funding, which has persisted since October 1, continues to strain bipartisan relations.
“Producers absolutely cannot afford delays in these programs amidst the harvest season,” Hoeven emphasized. “These are essential services to maintain operations, particularly in today’s challenging markets.”
Kenneth Hartman Jr., chairman of the Corn Growers Association, stated that this timing is crucial, as farmers are gearing up for next year’s seed and fertilizer orders and settling up with lenders concerning operating loans for the current year. Farmers are currently facing rising costs, intensifying the need for support. Hartman mentioned, “Because of the inflation factor, the farm economy is really in a critical situation here. Anything farmers can get in terms of support from last year’s farm bill is vital.”
On social media, the House Agriculture Committee Democrats criticized Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brook Rollins, stating they had the opportunity to support farmers consistently, but chose instead to exploit their struggles for quick political gain while raising the cost of living for everyday Americans by driving food and healthcare costs up.
