The federal government’s continued shutdown is no longer just a Washington standoff — it’s becoming a real-world problem for farmers and ranchers. As the days drag on without resolution, three Kansas State University economists warn that even with FSA offices back open, the absence of key USDA reports is rippling through every corner of the ag economy, from commodity markets to cattle prices and farm-level business planning.
Read MoreOffices that farmers count on for low-interest loans and disaster relief programs have reopened, even as the federal government shutdown drags on.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the reopening of 2,100 offices of the Farm Service Agency across the country at a crucial time for row crop farmers who are wrapping up the harvest, deciding whether to sell or store and planning for the next growing season.
Read MoreIn a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Congresswoman Julia Letlow thanked the Trump Administration for working to open up trade markets while highlighting the ongoing need for new market access for soybean producers.
Read MoreU.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins visited a Farm Service Agency (FSA) office in Louisiana Monday, marking her first stop at one of the 2,100 offices reopened nationwide following a presidential directive to resume operations during the ongoing government shutdown.
Read MoreCongressman Clay Higgins (R-LA), Governor Jeff Landry (R-LA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins, and Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture Mike Strain held a roundtable discussion with Louisiana farmers, cattlemen, and aquaculture reps, focused on strengthening the state’s agricultural industry.
Read MoreFarmers in Louisiana are grateful Friday after much-needed funding was released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture amid an ongoing federal government shutdown.
Brooke Rollins, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, was in Amite Friday and announced that processed payments for farmers and paid employees are currently underway.
Read MoreOn Sunday, President Trump made waves with a proposal for dealing with high U.S. beef prices. “We would buy some beef from Argentina,” he said from Air Force One during a flight from Florida to Washington, D.C., according to the Associated Press. “If we do that, that will bring our beef prices down.”
Read MoreThe Agriculture Department will reopen about 2,100 county offices all across the country Thursday despite the ongoing government shutdown to help farmers and ranchers get access to $3 billion of aid from existing programs.
Read MoreAgriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Tuesday night that Farm Service Agency offices would reopen Thursday to perform core operations. Those offices have been closed since Oct. 1 due to the government shutdown.
Read MoreToday, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler announced a suite of actions to strengthen the American beef industry, reinforcing and prioritizing the American rancher’s critical role in the national security of the United States. Since 2017, the United States has lost over 17% of family farms, more than 100,000 operations over the last decade. The national herd is at a 75-year low while consumer demand for beef has grown 9% over the past decade. Because increasing the size of the domestic herd takes time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing now to make these markets less volatile for ranchers over the long term and more affordable for consumers.
Read MoreU.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins appeared Tuesday evening on NewsNation and said, “There is a really big announcement coming tomorrow on what we’re going to do to restore and revitalize our beef herd in America, which ultimately will bring the prices down.”
Read MoreRural broadband growth is reshaping how farms across the South connect and compete. A new USDA survey released in August 2025 shows sharp increases in online input purchases and marketing activity, even as some producers scale back precision agriculture tools amid tighter margins.
Read MoreThe United States Department of Agriculture and the Food Safety Inspection Service have announced a recall of a popular breakfast item that is currently included as part of the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. These items have been sold and served nationwide, including in schools in Louisiana.
As the federal government shutdown continues, farmers across the country are facing mounting financial strain due to their inability to access marketing loans — a critical cash flow tool during harvest season.
Read MoreWhile Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has been through government shutdowns before, she said the current one “feels different.”
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