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Grassley warns farm program payments, trade talks at risk in shutdown

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley suggests the government shutdown could significantly impact farmers and ranchers.

The Iowa Republican tells Brownfield local Farm Service Agency offices are closed.

“If you’re in the farm program and you expect price supports and stuff that’s in law, I would say if you’re doing CRP you probably can’t sign up for it. I guess those are two examples, maybe I’ll stop there (but) there’s probably a lot more.”

He says trade negotiations could be stalled during the shutdown.

“And getting an agreement with China would be slowed down, that would be very detrimental and immediate. What might not be immediate is the low prices that our farmers are getting and the safety net kicking in.”

Grassley says the shutdown will likely have indirect consequences on agriculture as well because of an anticipated economic slowdown.