Farmers Are Worried About Their Aid Payments in Trump Shutdown
- USDA warned about aid halt if shutdown lasts more than a week
- Growers may be forced to sell crops to generate cash: analyst
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Just when U.S. farmers thought they were catching a break with a second round of federal aid, now there’s concern the impasse in Washington could hamper payments.
After crop prices tumbled amid the U.S.-China trade war, the Trump administration made good on its promise to help farmers by approving the second-round payments this month. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has said the total aid could reach as much as $12 billion, with soybean growers taking the biggest share. But the partial U.S. government shutdown is raising questions about delays for the plan, called the market facilitation program.