Ag producers hoping to apply for tariff offset payments through the United States Department of Agriculture will have extra time to do so.
USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue says the application deadline will be extended once the federal government shutdown ends. Farm Service Agency offices across the country have been closed recently, and Perdue says the original Jan. 15 deadline will be extended for the number of days the FSA offices are closed during the shutdown.
This is the latest of several significant announcements from either federal agencies or the White House regarding the shutdown this week. The USDA has announced SNAP, or food stamp, assistance will continue through February even though the program is funded through January. Also, the White House announced income tax refunds will be paid, although concerns have developed over whether the Internal Revenue Service can actually process refunds without an approved budget or Congressional funding for the Treasury Department.
