A Virginia Farm Bureau newsletter announced that, although the federal government remains shut down, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it will re-open all Farm Service Agency offices to assist farmers.
In an email, William Rodger, the American Farm Bureau Federation press officer who wrote the article said USDA staff, still furloughed, would not be paid during the shut down but that the offices will open Monday.
“They will be open for two weeks and then open for three days a week as long as needed – we don’t know how USDA would make the determination to close again, so that is an indefinite period of time,” Rodgers wrote.
The article described the importance of the USDA FSA services to farmers as they gear up to buy seed, equipment, insurance, labor, and plant, raise and market crops.
“The announcement that the Agriculture Department will re-open all Farm Service Agency offices for many vital services is welcome news,” American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall.
“The reopening means FSA will once again provide much-needed operating loans, crop insurance, crop disaster assistance and more.
“Planting time is here for many farmers, and very near for most. So far, we’ve been promised two additional weeks of operation starting on Jan. 28, and three days a week thereafter for as long as those services are needed,” he added.
Virginia Farm Bureau Federation President Wayne F. Pryor said farmers “are struggling right now, and FSA’s re-opening means the agency will be able to provide much-needed operating loans, crop disaster assistance and more. We are grateful that farmers will be able to continue with the business of farming.”
Duvall added that the FSA office opening “is a great start. We look forward to an end to the ongoing shutdown and hope the president and Congress alike can find a way to end their impasse as soon as possible.”
