Government Shutdown Puts U.S. Farms at Risk

By Zippy Duvall

Farmers and ranchers don’t quit when times get tough. When a tractor breaks down, we get out our tools and get to work. When a storm is coming, everyone pitches in to get the crops harvested. And when we disagree on how to handle a problem, we sit down at the kitchen table or gather around the tailgate, and we work it out. That’s what Congress needs to do now to end the shutdown. It’s time for both sides of the aisle to come together, find a solution, and reopen the federal government. Farmers, rural communities, and families across the country are counting on our lawmakers to do their job.

The Federal Shutdown Hurts Rural Communities

Shutting down the federal government has ripple effects across our nation’s economy and communities. It’s not just bringing things to a halt in Washington, D.C.; it also cuts off important programs and services that rural Americans rely on. USDA offices in counties across the country are severely diminished in their staff and capacity. The men and women who work at these offices, serving local farms and ranches, are our neighbors. These federal employees at the local level often live paycheck to paycheck and cannot wait indefinitely as Congress holds up federal funding.

Small- and medium-sized farms have been left without critical reports and data they rely on to buy and sell what they grow. For example, USDA’s Market News—a free service for farmers and ranchers—provides valuable market information to farmers and ranchers who can’t afford a team of economists to help them make market decisions. These are decisions that cannot be put on hold: planting, growing and harvesting seasons do not operate on a congressional schedule.