The federal government is back open following the longest shutdown in United States history. Congress reached an agreement late last week, the President signed it, and agencies have been working their way back to normal ever since. USDA entered the restart period in a stronger position than most departments, because it received its full year of funding for nutrition and farm programs as part of the broader agreement.
It was a major topic when I sat down for my monthly conversation with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. Our interview took place the morning after the shutdown ended, and Naig said right away that securing a complete budget for USDA matters for farmers at a time when the economy is still uncertain.
Naig said one of the biggest points of irritation was that the shutdown attempted to force a healthcare policy debate by using unrelated parts of the government as pressure points. That created disruptions throughout the country, and in agriculture, it froze work right as producers were leaning heavily on fall programs.
While the shutdown caused real stress, it also revealed how quickly Iowans step up when they see a need. As SNAP funds neared exhaustion and families faced a cold stretch and the start of the holiday season, communities across the state filled the gap. Churches, food pantries, local businesses, and volunteers worked together to keep people fed.
Naig says the return to normal operations at USDA should help bring some stability back into conservation programs, cost-share agreements, and support services that had been frozen for more than a month. With winter approaching and planning for the next crop year underway, he says the focus now is to rebuild momentum and make up for the time that was lost.
