Episode 269: The Government Reopens: What’s Next for Farmers?

The U.S. federal government began a partial shutdown starting Wednesday October 1st, and after 43 long days it finally came to end on November 12th.

A resumption of funding means that many furloughed USDA employees will be getting back to work, and farmers and ranchers across the country can finally expect some forward movement on issues from biofuels to possible trade aid. 

To help guide us through what to expect in the coming days, we’re joined by DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton, who not only followed every beat of the shutdown, but brings us up-to-date on all the news from Capitol Hill that’s happened in the meantime. We’ll start with an analysis about how the longest government shutdown in history came to a close, and what it could mean for key agricultural issues going forward.

Then, we’ll dive into the latest from the Trump administration, including controversies around trade with China, the soybean market, and prices in the beef markets. We'll also get an update on the tariff picture overall, and look ahead to what we might expect from Congress and the Administration between now and the end of the year. 

Finally, we’ll explore the potential for a farm aid package in the coming weeks, the likelihood of reopening the Southern border, and talk about why ag trade groups are focusing on demands around biofuels right now.