If you’re a conventional farmer, or even a no-tiller reaching a plateau with your farm operation, I’d invite you to read this article and reflect on where you’re headed and the “why” behind your farm management. 

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins says the USDA will be announcing an aid program for row-crop farmers but cannot do it until the government shutdown ends.

Prices or markets could change next year, when you’ll want to be ready for a strong recovery. Damaging your soils will take a much longer time to fix.

The USDA posted its “shutdown plan” early Wednesday detailing how staffing, payments and programs at the massive agency will be affected and what operations will grind to a halt until a budget agreement can be reached in Congress. 

Rollins announced Thursday the U.S. Department of Justice signed a memorandum of understanding, “that represents a joint commitment by both agencies to protect American farmers and ranchers” from unacceptable increases in  feed, fertilizer, fuel, seed, equipment and other “essential goods.”

During the annual meeting of the National Assn. of State Departments of Agriculture, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke J. Lindberg said the administration is still focused on expanding market access, enforcing trade commitment and “boosting rural prosperity..