In addition to the temporary opening of Farm Service Agency offices, North Dakota Senator John Hoeven tells the Red River Farm Network there are efforts underway to help farmers and others who rely on USDA during the partial government shutdown. “For both January and February, the Department of Agriculture has figured out how to cover nutrition services including food stamps, school lunch programs and the Women, Infants and Children Program,” says Hoeven. “We’ve been working to get more help with farmers on the Market Facilitation Program payments and the marketing loans. We’re trying to get more help, but ultimately, it’s important to get the rest of the government funded.”
