Despite the government shutdown, the USDA announced on Tuesday, Jan. 22, that beginning Jan. 24, all Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices would open.
This follows an earlier partial opening of some FSA offices in the recent weeks. This earlier partial opening was intended to facilitate the servicing of existing loans and tax document distribution and filing.
USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue additionally announced that the deadline for farmers and ranchers to apply for the Market Facilitation Program will be extended to Feb. 14.
This program is part of the USDA’s $12 billion trade aid package to compensate for damages of international retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs.
The FSA employees who have been recalled—an estimated 9,700 people—will be working without pay for the duration of the shutdown.
However, President Donald Trump signed legislation last week that will guarantee backpay for those federal employees who were required to work during the shutdown. Not all FSA services will be available.
These include: New Conservation Reserve Program contracts; New Direct and Guaranteed Farm Ownership Loans; Farm Storage Facility Loan Program; New or in-process Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program applications; Emergency Conservation Program; Emergency Forest Rehabilitation Program; Biomass Crop Assistance Program; and Grassroots Source Water Protection Program.
