Farm Service Agency Offices Reopening for Three Days

(WASHINGTON, DC) Despite an ongoing government shutdown, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced Wednesday that many Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices will reopen temporarily to perform certain limited services for farmers and ranchers. USDA has recalled about 2,500 FSA employees to open offices on Thursday and Friday and again next Tuesday during normal business hours. The offices will be closed Monday. In almost half of FSA locations, staff will be available to assist agricultural producers with existing farm loans and to ensure the agency provides 1099 tax documents to borrowers by the IRS deadline. Staff members will be available at certain FSA offices to help producers with processing payments made on or before December 31, 2018; continuing expiring financing statements, and opening mail to identify priority items. Additionally, staff may release proceeds from the sale of loan security by signing checks jointly payable to FSA that are brought to the county office by producers.