USDA to Open All Farm Service Agency Offices During Shutdown

The USDA announced this afternoon that all County Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices will be reopening during the partial government shutdown. The USDA has recalled more than 9,700 FSA employees to keep offices open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm weekdays beginning January 24, 2019. For the first two weeks under this operating plan (January 28th through February 1 and February 4 through February 8) FSA offices will be open Monday through Fridays. In subsequent weeks, offices will be open three days a week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Farmers who have business with the agency should contact their FSA service center to make an appointment. For farmers that have not signed up for the Market Facilitation Program the deadline to do so has been extended to February 14, 2019. Other program deadlines will be extended and announced soon. FSA offices will be able to provide most services "as they are critical for farmers and ranchers and have mandatory program funds available."