Because of the government shutdown, the peanut industry has not been able to secure their farm loan or to place peanuts in the loan to receive the minimum price of $3.55 per ton.
Well, good news. Starting Thursday this week, USDA will resume Farm Service Agency core operations, including critical services for the farm loan processing, the ARC program, average revenue, and the PLC, price loss coverage payments, and other programs that are paid by Farm Service Agency. Standing with President Trump sent the message that he is standing up for the farmers while Democrats are obstructing right now.
Special thanks go to the USDA employees who continue to work without pay to serve our farmers and ranchers. They will now be uniting on Thursday, and farm loans will be available to peanut farmers, and it’ll take a while to update all the data and information. They have been receiving grading services by the Federal State Inspection Service, so the peanuts have been graded, placed in warehouses, but now the paperwork has to be finished and sent in before they can secure the farm loan.
So, market loan assistance is now available at the Farm Service Agency.
Audio Reporting by Tyron Spearman for Southeast AgNet.