News

MFP payments WILL still go out if there’s a government shutdown

The USDA has confirmed that Market Facilitation Program payments will still go out to farmers if the federal government shuts down after midnight.  President Trump authorized the second round of payments on Monday. FSA County Offices will begin processing payments TODAY, but it will take a few days after processing for producers to receive funds.

If there’s a shut down, the USDA and several other agencies would be affected but the head of APHIS, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, says USDA border security programs will NOT be affected, “Our most basic mission is to keep foreign pests and diseases out of the country. So all of our work aimed at that will continue.” Kevin Shae says the response to Virulent New Castle disease in southern California poultry will not stop.

President Trump “tweeted” he supports a partial government shutdown and will keep it in place “for a long time” if Senate Democrats don’t support the House spending bill that contains border wall funding.