www.FarmAid.org
2019 looks like another busy year for our farmer hotline. We’ve already received more than double our typical number of calls. Nearly every call is from a farmer hurt by the government shutdown. It’s not lost on us that the agency established to be there for farmers when traditional banks won’t help, is now powerless to show their utility.
It’s a common misconception that farms are most active in spring, summer, and fall. The truth is that winter is equally–if not more–important, because winter is when farmers sell their crops, pay their bills, acquire the next year’s operating loans, and prepare for the upcoming season. Winter is not time off for farmers; winter is business time. For the USDA to be shut down during this critical time is incredibly stressful for the farmers we hear from every day.