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2019 began in middle of government shutdown

2019 began in the middle of a government shutdown.  And a leader with the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association says it had a major impact on agriculture.

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history began December 22nd, 2018 and ended January 25th, 2019. 

Speaking to Brownfield toward the end of the shutdown, then MSGA president Michael Petefish of Claremont said having USDA agencies shuttered hurt the bottom line of farmers.

“Both for receiving CCC loans and putting grain under loan, for MFP signup, moneys, and payments. But I’ve also heard reports of farmers wanting to remove loans from CCC. In other words, haul them in this month because of a good basis or something.”

He tells Brownfield in those situations, farmers are handcuffed when trying to raise capital.

“If the banks maybe squeeze them a little bit as we approach rent season, input season, and spring, they might need to sell some grain to raise capital. And they’re not able to do so right now.”

The government shutdown that lasted 36 days also slowed implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill.

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