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Farmers Union urges farmers to get FSA business done quickly

The President of the National Farmers Union is pleased the government shutdown is over, but he is concerned about the long term. 

Roger Johnson tells Brownfield the shutdown didn’t help anyone. “There’s an old saying that there’s not much education in the second kick of a mule, and hopefully folks realize that this shutdown really didn’t accomplish anything.”

Johnson says now that government services are reopening, farmers should work quickly in case it happens again. “Certainly go in and get whatever business you need to get done during these few weeks for, particularly about beginning farmers that may have been waiting on a farm ownership loan. Get in and do that right way. Some of the CRP stuff, some sign-ups, those kind of things that have been off the table, get in and do that now.”

Johnson says both parties have to figure out how to give and take, and he’s hopeful a longer-term spending resolution can be agreed to shortly.

Johnson spoke with Brownfield at the Wisconsin Farmers Union convention in Appleton, Wisconsin.