Walt Breitinger Times Columnist

The government shutdown will delay access to federal farm loans at a time when farmers face low crop prices, record debt, and trade war issues at the very height of the fall harvest.

Additionally, the USDA will furlough one half of its 85,907 employees.

The inability to process loans and disaster aid will reduce farm aid by billions of dollars. The USDA conservation project will also remain unfunded.

A record large corn crop could drive prices down, affecting farm profits as seed and fertilizer costs rise sharply.

The USDA was in the process of distributing the last round of the $10 billion dollar Emergency Commodity Assistance Program prior to the shutdown. Farmers must now delay purchase of added acres in anticipation of next year’s planting season.

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