(WASHINGTON D.C.) — Late on Tuesday, the Trump Administration announced that it would be reopening Farm Service Agency offices for core operations amid the ongoing government shutdown.
In a statement on X, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in part that “Thursday, USDA will resume Farm Service Agency core operations, including critical services for farm loan processing, ARC/PLC payments, and other programs.” According to further details from the administration, this will mean two county office employees in every county office, five days per week, performing normal functions for CCC funded programs while accepting information (i.e., application intake) related to programs funded by alternative sources.
Congressman Dusty Johnson (R-SD) said in an interview with us late Tuesday that he and others had been working with Secretary Rollins to get FSA offices reopened for critical services.
“Secretary Rollins has been good about having conversations with me and others about how we can get these FSA offices back open, at least on a part-time basis,” according to Congressman Johnson. “It’s really created a cash flow crunch in farm country. Farmers drop off a load of grain at the elevator, the elevator cuts them a check, but the elevator often has that check made out to both the producer and to USDA, because maybe there’s a lien on that grain or there’s a hold on it because maybe the producer owes some money as part of a lending program, very standard lending program.”
He added that “And so the producer has been in a situation of not being able to get that check countersigned. They don’t have money to pay their bills. It has become a bigger and bigger problem as the days have turned into weeks. Secretary Rollins really cares about farm and ranch country. She’s been working her tail off to figure out a way to get these offices opened, at least some of the time, and it was a big announcement today.”
Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) also issued a statement late on Tuesday following USDA’s announcement that FSA office would be reopening later this week. “After our meeting with Secretary Rollins this morning and multiple discussions with the White House, I’m pleased that the Department of Ag will be reopening Farm Service Agency offices for a few days each week during the shutdown,” according to Rounds. “We’ve heard from producers who are selling their livestock and their grain who can’t get their checks endorsed while the government has been shut down, resulting in missed loan payments. Many producers use the FSA as a lender and they need to be able to release these funds as their loans are paid off.”
Again, according to information from the White House:
- On Thursday, USDA will resume Farm Service Agency core operations, including critical services for farm loan processing and ARC/PLC payments and programs.
- This means two county office employees in every county office, five days per week, performing normal functions for CCC funded programs while accepting information (i.e., application intake) related to programs funded by alternative sources.
CCC Programs
- Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC)/ Price Loss Coverage (PLC)
- Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL)
- Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP)
- Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP)
- Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm Raised Fish Program (ELAP)
- Tree Assistance Program (TAP)
- Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
- Price Support Loans (sugar)
- Non-insured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)
- Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC)
Intake Only Programs
- Direct and Guaranteed Farm Loans
- Emergency Livestock Revenue Program (ELRP) – Wildfire and Flooding
- Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) Phase 1
- Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)
- Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP)
Hear the full conversation with Congressman Dusty Johnson below:
