The Government Reopens

Federal Operations Resume, Restoring Essential Services for Agriculture

After weeks of uncertainty, the federal government officially reopened after the passage of a funding agreement. While this shutdown has caused disruption and delays for many funding agencies, the reopening brings much-needed stability for farmers who rely on government operations to run their businesses and plan for the year ahead.

All local Farm Service Agencies (FSA) offices are expected to reopen immediately, allowing staff to process delayed payments, loan applications, disaster assistance, and conservation program enrollments. The reopening will also allow the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue critical market and crop reports, helping farmers make informed marketing and risk management decisions.

What’s being funded through 2026

• Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs will be funded for another year to ensure farmers continue to receive safety-net support
• Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) retains its full $30 billion annual budget, allowing USDA to continue issuing farm program payments, disaster assistance, and export promotion funding
• Crop insurance support stays intact, including premium assistance and targeted incentives for beginning farmers
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) funding will resume in full, ensuring that families across the country will continue to have access to healthy, affordable food—connecting farmers to consumers and strengthening rural communities.

IL Corn applauds the bipartisan effort that brought this shutdown to an end. A stable government allows farmers to focus on their farms, families, and the future of the corn industry.