WASHINGTON (RFD-TV) — Lawmakers are scrambling this week to avoid a government shutdown, but it is looking increasingly unlikely. The deadline is Tuesday at midnight.
The House passed the continuing resolution last week and is not in session this week. The Senate will be in session today, but there has been no indication that they’ll take up the Continuing Resolution that already failed in the Senate last week. President Trump has urged mass layoffs of government workers in the event of a shutdown.
Averting a Shutdown and a Farm Sector ‘Crisis’
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says the details of those plans are still being worked out, but she assures that programs relied on by farmers and ranchers will not be impacted. While Congress works out those details, ag groups are out and about taking a stand for the industry. The National Farmers Union (NFU) warns that, despite farmers’ best efforts, the outlook remains bleak.
“If it isn’t in a crisis, it’s well on its way to one,” said NFU Vice President of Advocacy Mike Tranz. “Right now, the economic indicators are not looking good. There are alarm bells sounding and lights flashing on the dashboard, so to speak, when it comes to the farm economy.”
The bulk of the Farm Bill was finalized in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) said that leaves lawmakers few excuses in the coming weeks.
“Agriculture needs to have the provisions that are afforded to the industry through a modern Farm Bill,” Rep. Newhouse said. “There are so many challenges already that farmers are facing; the federal government should not be counted amongst those challenges.”
Newhouse added that he has spoken to House Ag Committee Chair, Sen. G.T. Thompson (R-PA), and said he hopes to advance a new Farm Bill as soon as possible.
Farmers’ Priorities for the Five-Year Farm Bill
Grain groups are urging the White House to take action on trade. While soybean growers have felt the impact of China buying elsewhere, the new chair of the U.S. Grains Council warns that sorghum growers are also in deep trouble.
“Ninety-five percent of their crop was going to China; that’s shut off, so we’ve got to find a place,” Josh Miller said. “Those guys are really hurting. That helps corn farmers, too, because if we can help the sorghum farmers move their products, that sorghum won’t come into the corn market. Also, it’s a ripple effect—a rising tide lifts all boats.”
Miller also wants to see growth in areas like bioproducts. He said the Grains Council has been left out of important conversations and called for more talks with industry stakeholders.
You heard Miller there talking in support of the corn industry. While prices are far from where farmers would like them to be, recent export data shows that a significant portion of that crop is now on the move.
“You talk about going in different directions -- the corn market had another week of outstanding export business, 75.7 million bushels,” explained analyst Brian Hoops, president of Midwest Marketing Solutions. “Mexico was our biggest buyer. The unknown destination was a good buyer as well. But corn exports are the highest on record for this point in the marketing season, even though it’s early, we’re at the all-time-record pace, 75% higher than last year, which was a really good export year.”
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The shutdown looms as economic uncertainties are becoming increasingly complex for the average American, particularly in rural areas and beyond, with many turning to social services to make ends meet.
New numbers released from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) revealed that 12 percent of U.S. residents rely on SNAP benefits, which equates to nearly 42 million people. However, the breakdown state-by-state varies widely. For example, New Mexico residents’ usage was around 21 percent, while other states, such as Utah, reported usage of around five percent.
