The partial shutdown of the government started just two days after President Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill into law, which for many could not have come at a worse time.  Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue said while the USDA was impacted by the shutdown, they were able to get some work accomplished.

 

“We’ve already been at work, and even during the shutdown, many of those people were there, working on Farm Bill implementation.  I visited with a group last week, and talked about the things they were doing in order to be prepared as soon as we can get back a full complement to get people all of the things that they need.”

 

Perdue added that the USDA tried to work on Farm Bill implementation as much as possible, in hopes to have as many components available to producers as soon as the shutdown came to an end.

 

“The USDA has a lot of detail work to do regarding the implementation of all the rules and regulations our departments have to comply with and our producers have to comply with in the 2018 Farm Bill.”

 

Perdue noted it was nice to provide reports and other documentation for growers looking ahead to spring planting and the 2019 growing season.

 

 

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