By Ryan Hanrahan
Agri-Pulse’s Philip Brasher and Steve Davies reported that “President Donald Trump late Wednesday signed into law a measure to end the longest-ever government shutdown after 43 days, fully fund USDA and FDA for fiscal 2026, and end a bitter legal battle over this month’s SNAP benefits.”
“The measure, approved by the House 222-209 Wednesday night after passing the Senate on Monday, also extends farm bill programs whose authorization expired Sept. 30, including the Conservation Reserve Program,” Brasher and Davies reported. “Six Democrats crossed party lines to support the bill; two Republicans opposed it.”
“By getting full-year funding in the legislation, USDA and FDA are effectively insulated from any further shutdowns until the fiscal year ends next Sept. 30. Three annual appropriations bills were wrapped into the legislation – Agriculture, which funds USDA and FDA; Legislative Branch, which funds congressional operations, and Military Construction-VA, which funds the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction projects,” Brasher and Davies reported. “The bill ‘delivers on our promise to our veterans, our farmers and our taxpayers,’ said Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-Minn.”
Progressive Farmer’s Chris Clayton reported that “farmers should expect full services to return at local Farm Service Agency offices, including processing for loan applications for farm ownership or home loans that have been frozen since the shutdown began. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) should also reopen for business.”
Source : illinois.edu