WASHINGTON (RFD-TV) — As the government remains in partial shutdown, emergency farm aid hangs in the balance. However, farmers feeling the pressure must continue to wait for this much-needed aid.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced last week that assistance would remain on hold until the government reopens. However, Secretary Rollins has said that once the shutdown ends, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be ready to go with emergency aid for farmers.
Before the shutdown, USDA had already transferred $13 billion from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to fund relief programs.
According to House Appropriations Chairman, Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), Congress would need to replenish the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to fund the support farmers need.
“When they make up their mind that they want the government up and running, believe me, we’ll move very quickly,” Chairman Cole said. “We’ll try to move away quickly from a [Continuing Resolution] status, to passing bills individually or in small groups, and get folks up and working again, and get the government restored.”
The shutdown also keeps federal operations stalled, including programs that provide emergency aid to farmers in need.
“We could do this work and still have time to turn around,” Chairman Cole said. “As the president and our leadership have pointed out, in both chambers, [we need to] sit down and talk about these other issues, but it’s hard to do much when the negotiations aren’t happening.”
Farm-Level Takeaway: Expect a fresh push for bridge payments and policy shifts on trade, biofuels, competition, and purchasing that could lift farm demand and margins.
AFBF Sends Letters Asking for Immediate Farm Assistance
Farm families say the math no longer works with prices down, costs up, and trade uncertainty widening the gap. So, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is pressing Washington for immediate and longer-term help. The message? Preserve farm capacity now or risk deeper losses that take years to rebuild.
The AFBF is calling for not only short-term bridge payments to help farmers manage immediate expenses, but long-term trade and pricing strategies. The Farm Bureau cites crop prices that “fell off a cliff” since 2022 and a persistent ag trade deficit, heightening volatility around China and other partners.
AFBF’s Director of Government Affairs Brian Glenn explains why they sent letters to the White House and Congress on behalf of the ag industry.
“Cost pressures from labor, regulatory compliance, fertilizer, and energy have eroded margins for farmers, while their crop receipts have also fallen steeply since 2022,” Glenn said. “Since 2022, U.S. ag has also experienced a trade deficit, and persistent non-tariff trade barriers have added to the volatility.”
“It is extremely important that the Administration and Congress move quickly to authorize bridge payments for farmers before the end of 2025, really to keep farmers afloat,” Glenn said. “We need swift and decisive action taken on policy solutions to increase market access and opportunities for farmers.”
In letters to President Donald Trump and congressional leaders, AFBF President Zippy Duvall warns that shuttered farms drain rural schools, elevators, main street businesses, and ultimately America’s food independence.
In the short term, AFBF urges “bridge payments” before year-end, robust enough to stabilize cash flow while policy resets.
In the longer term, the Farm Bureau renewed its call for several priorities, including:
- Fair and enforceable trade agreements;
- Policy on biofuels, including year-round sales of E15;
- Restoration of whole milk in schools;
- Protecting interstate commerce;
- Investigating prices for major agricultural supplies;
- Enforcing laws and regulations that protect competition, fairness, and transparency; and
- Prioritizing American-grown fruits and vegetables in federal and institutional purchasing programs.
With the government shutdown still in effect and year-end deadlines approaching, farm groups are emphasizing the importance of timely assistance to help farmers keep their operations running.
