Government Shutdown Affects Oklahoma Producers

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) – The government shutdown has been having an impact on Oklahoma farmers and ranchers.

Oklahoma State University agricultural economics professor Larry Sanders says the shutdown has blocked the availability of a number of services.

Sanders told the Norman Transcript that commodity price support programs, commodity loans and farm loans are suspended because of the shutdown. Also unavailable are disaster assistance and conservation programs.

Sanders says growers expecting Farm Service Agency checks this month will probably have to wait to get them. That could hurt the ability of producers to make payments on bank loans.

The government has also not issued statistical reports on crops and livestock. The U.S. Department of Agriculture website is suspended due to the shutdown.