The impact of the government shutdown on farmers and ranchers across the United States is becoming increasingly dire, with small operations like Orange Creek Farms in Rock Valley, Iowa, feeling the brunt of the consequences. Last June, record flooding devastated the farm, leading to the loss of animals, equipment, and pasture. Despite applying for emergency USDA loans and disaster relief programs, Chelsie Ver Mulm, the owner of Orange Creek Farms, faced repeated denials due to application issues and eligibility restrictions.
As the costs of recovery continued to mount, Orange Creek Farms fell behind on bills and had to reduce its herd size significantly. In a last-ditch effort to save the business, Ver Mulm applied for a USDA Rural Development grant, hoping to offset their losses and keep the farm afloat. However, with the government shutdown causing the USDA to furlough most of its workforce, the processing of applications has come to a standstill, leaving farmers like Ver Mulm in limbo.
The shutdown has already resulted in significant financial losses for the U.S. economy, with an estimated $7 billion in damages. Approximately 20,000 Department of Agriculture staffers have lost their jobs this year, leading to administrative struggles, overworked employees, and delays in financial assistance processing. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’s reorganization plan for the USDA is expected to further reduce staff numbers, creating a skeleton workforce that may struggle to meet the needs of farmers and ranchers across the country.
With the shutdown persisting, the impact on producers who require advance planning for their businesses will only worsen. The suspension of SNAP benefits, used by nearly 42 million Americans, including many small farmers, adds to the economic strain felt by farmers and consumers alike. States have sued the Department of Agriculture to preserve funding for SNAP during the shutdown, with federal courts ruling that the agency must tap into contingency funds to cover at least some benefits for the month of November.
As the shutdown continues, farmers and ranchers face an uncertain future, with the broader economic and societal ripple effects of the shutdown becoming more pronounced. The Trump administration’s decision not to use emergency funding for SNAP during the shutdown has exacerbated the challenges faced by farmers and consumers, highlighting the critical need for a resolution to the ongoing government stalemate. In a recent press conference, Rollins criticized the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), stating that the program had become “so corrupt” under the Biden administration. This criticism comes amidst a government shutdown that has left many farmers like Ver Mulm in a state of uncertainty.
The shutdown has also sparked a budget standoff in Congress, with accusations flying across both sides of the aisle over federal healthcare. President Trump has urged congressional Republicans to end the shutdown by eliminating the filibuster, a move that has divided the GOP. If the impasse continues into next week, it would mark the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
For farmers like Ver Mulm, each day of delay brings more prolonged uncertainty. With USDA staffers facing a backlog of work after being furloughed, the already-strained workforce is likely to experience further bottlenecks. Ver Mulm, a second-generation Iowa farmer, has drained her savings to keep her farm afloat, living off credit cards. Now, with her credit score plummeting and her farm on the brink of insolvency, she fears that her family may soon have to close the chapter on feeding their community.
Ver Mulm describes a growing sense of desperation, as the grant she is waiting for is their last chance to save the farm. The longer the government remains in limbo, the smaller the window becomes to secure their future. Despite exhausting all options, Ver Mulm remains hopeful that a resolution will come soon, allowing her family to continue their farming legacy.
The USDA has yet to respond to the criticism leveled against SNAP, but for farmers like Ver Mulm, the stakes are high. As the shutdown drags on, the impact on small family farms becomes more severe. The uncertainty and financial strain are taking a toll on farmers across the country, with no clear end in sight. It is crucial for policymakers to find a resolution quickly to prevent further harm to those who rely on government assistance to keep their farms running.
