Farmers and ranchers are keeping an eye on Washington DC, as a government shutdown looms

“Farmers want to feed people. They want to keep farming. They’re counting on Congress to live up to its obligations.”

Washington is inching closer and closer to a partial government shutdown.

Senate Democrats have said that they will filibuster the Continuing Resolution passed by the House this week.
The American Farm Bureau says that it is counting on lawmakers to make fiscally responsible decisions.

According to AFBF’s Emily Buckman, “If a funding bill is not passed by the end of the week, then the government will go into a shutdown. From our perspective, farmers want to feed people. They want to keep farming. They’re counting on Congress to live up to its obligations. Ensure that government programs, permits, and loans that farmers rely on are available. A shutdown is not good for anyone, and Congress should work together to pass legislation that ensures that there is some certainty moving forward.”

If no progress is made in the next day, a partial shutdown would happen late Friday night. The Farm Bureau explains the impact on farmers and ranchers.

“Farmers will not be able to take out loans, including mortgage loans, crop loans, which help them pay for expenses to grow next year’s crops. A shutdown would impact disaster payments. It would halt new signups for several conservation programs. Again, a government shutdown is not beneficial to anyone, and we hope that Congress can come together and get a bill passed before the 14th hits.”

The Continuing Resolution passed by the House this week keeps spending levels mostly the same and funds the government through September.

Related Stories
USDA and EPA officials aim to maintain America’s robust food supply while ensuring farmers have access to key resources and crop protection tools.
The Senate failed to pass a continuing resolution that had been approved by the House the previous week. They could take it up again today, but it would take seven democrats to end the stalemate.
The USDA is working with 14 different states, including Georgia, to develop and implement block grants to address the unique disaster recovery needs for each state.
The USDA’s August Cold Storage report shows shifting stock levels across major dairy, meat, and poultry products.
The total value of the U.S. potato crop was $4.60 billion in 2024, representing an 8% decrease from the previous year.