Effects of Government Shutdown Ripple Through the Ag Sector

Lewis Williamson, from HTS Commodities, joined us to share insights on the farm economy from producers in the field.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — While the ongoing government shutdown has furloughed nearly half of the staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and paused the release of weekly harvest progress numbers, farmers across the country continue making strides in the fields.

Lewis Williamson, with HTS Commodities, joined us on Tuesday’s Market Day Report to share insight on what he is hearing from producers during harvest and how the shutdown could ripple through the ag sector.

In his interview with RFD-TV News, Williamson discussed the progress farmers are reporting despite the lack of official data, as well as the uncertainty surrounding the Trump Administration’s expected relief package aimed at supporting soybean growers still grappling with China’s absence from the market.

He also provided an update on Mississippi River levels and the potential implications for grain movement during this critical harvest window.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

The Nashville Ag Club meets monthly to discuss current issues and hear from inspiring agriculture-related speakers.
As the White House works to close the trade gap, patience is wearing thin for some lawmakers. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says farmers are getting backed into a corner.
Dirt Diaries is where women in agriculture pull back the curtain and get real. The latest episode features Zoe Kent, known online as Farm with Zoe!
The Consumer Price Index rose 0.4 percent in August, led by higher shelter, food, and gasoline prices. Year over year, inflation is up 2.9 percent.
The Arkansas Farm Bureau takes us there for a tour of the facility that will expand livestock education in a key agricultural region.
The Cotton Jassid previously detected in Georgia has now made its way to the Lone Star State.