Hoard's Dairyman:
Shutdown brings disruption with no clear end
October 13, 2025
By Alan Bjerga, Executive Vice President, Communications & Industry Relations
The federal government shutdown is grinding through October, and it may only be the beginning. With both sides dug in and seeing little incentive to compromise, disruptions to federal services may be the new normal for some time — and that means farmers need to be prepared for what’s happening and coming next.
By now, the main contours of the shutdown’s effects on dairy farmers are in place.
- Most Farm Service Agency (FSA) staff have been furloughed, and county FSA offices closed, although according to its shutdown plan, USDA should now be making available one employee per service center to complete urgent loan processing tasks for certain active loans. Still, no new loans will be processed at any point during the shutdown.
- Meanwhile, most Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) staff are furloughed and county NRCS offices closed, stopping payments and technical assistance on active contracts.
- The recently announced Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) 2023 and 2024 flood program, a disaster assistance program that covers much of the nation, is paused.
- Data reports covering U.S. milk production, trade data, and cold storage, are suspended, though USDA will continue to report pricing information, including the National Dairy Product Sales Report, and Market News information.
- Many regulatory programs that are either funded by user fees or mainly run by states are continuing. USDA and FDA butter grading, the Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection (AQI) program or Animal Drug User Fee Amendments (ADUFA), to cite some examples of user-funded initiatives, are continuing to operate, while the Grade A milk program operated by states also continues.
- Importantly, animal and plant health emergency programs, including those for New World screwworm, highly pathogenic avian influenza, exotic fruit flies, African swine fever, and rabies, are continuing.
Farmers caught one piece of good fortune in that the tax and spending package Congress passed earlier this year: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act reauthorized many farm bill programs, taking away that question mark. But, of course, administering those programs becomes more challenging when services aren’t available. Additionally, discussions of further assistance to farmers because of market disruption due to tariffs and other challenges are stymied until Congress surmounts the hurdles needed to get the government running again — another lost opportunity to shore up bottom lines battered by low commodity prices and economic volatility.
We at NMPF are monitoring the situation closely for signs of a thaw in the standoff, or of any changes in how government agencies are prioritizing limited resources during the shutdown. Any farmer can reach out to info@nmpf.org with concerns or questions as the shutdown evolves. The federal government touches lives in multiple ways, some that a farmer may not think about until it’s gone. We’re here to offer what support and information we can, hoping that the disruptions are settled as soon as possible.
This column originally appeared in Hoard’s Dairyman Intel on Oct. 13, 2025.
