Autumn in the United States is a crucial time for farmers: It is the season of the harvesting of pumpkins, apples, corn, and grains (wheat, barley and sorghum); it is also the time when farmers make repairs, plan for the next growing season, and take out crop loans, according to [KCUR news,](https://www.kcur.org/news/2025-10-20/federal-shutdown-farmers Kansas City’s National Public Radio member station.
While much of the media have focused on the cutoff in SNAP payments, the government shutdown has occurred at one of the worst times for farmers, who rely on local USDA offices for loans, disaster assistance, and the like; these offices are either closed or operating at reduced levels.
“Small- and medium-sized farms have been left without critical reports and data they rely on to buy and sell what they grow. For example, USDA’s Market News—a free service for farmers and ranchers—provides valuable market information to farmers and ranchers who can’t afford a team of economists to help them make market decisions. These are decisions that cannot be put on hold: planting, growing and harvesting seasons do not operate on a congressional schedule,” reported the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Zipline blog.
“Farmers are facing a serious economic storm right now. Row crop prices are low, production expenses are at record highs, and our markets have been severely limited by ongoing trade disputes. A shutdown adds another level of uncertainty for farmers who are barely holding on.
“Without local USDA offices fully open, farmers cannot weather this storm or prepare for next year. Farmers cannot take out loans, including mortgages and crop loans, which many will be counting on to help pay for supplies to grow next year’s crops. A federal shutdown also holds up critical disaster payments for farmers struggling to recover from drought, hurricanes, fires and floods that have all taken a toll on crops this year. Without these tools and assistance, many farmers will not be able to afford to grow a crop next year,” wrote American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall on Oct. 8.
