Georgia Farmers Hit by Shutdown and Shutdown Warnings or Agriculture
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson and this is your Agribusiness Update.
**Georgia farmers rely on support from the USDA and other government agencies that are being affected by the federal government shutdown.
According to the USDA’s shutdown plan, nearly half of the department’s 85,000+ employees were to be furloughed.
www.gfb.org reports most county Farm Service Agency offices are closed or minimally staffed, and new applications for FSA programs and acreage reporting are not happening, and farm loan services are halted.
www.gfb.org/news/ag-news/post/government-shutdown-curtails-many-usda-activities
**High premiums on Brazilian cargoes are discouraging soybean buyers in China, keeping them from securing its soybean supply for December and January.
Reuters says the development could prompt the Chinese government to tap state reserves for near-term needs.
China covered its needs through November with hefty buys from Argentina in recent weeks but still needs much more.
Escalating U.S.-China trade tensions continue to shut American soybeans from the market.
**The top Senate Republican is warning the White House that American farmers will continue to suffer if they don’t reopen certain farm loans during the government shutdown.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune says farmers need access to Marketing Assistance Loans so they can meet cash flow needs during harvest and as they make planting decisions for next year.
Administration officials say they’ve no plans to shift money around for ag loans.
