American agriculture is weathering its worst storm in years. Crop prices are low, input costs are at record highs, and ongoing trade disputes have narrowed export opportunities. Now, the federal government shutdown has thrown another wrench into the works, leaving farmers without access to essential USDA services right in the middle of harvest season.

With USDA offices shuttered across the country, farmers can no longer apply for loans, sign up for crop insurance, receive disaster payments, or get technical support for conservation programs. The $10 billion Emergency Commodity Assistance Program—a one-time relief payment for certain producers—has been put on hold just as the final rounds of payments were set to go out. For many, this funding is a lifeline during a cash-crunch season.

Market data has also gone dark. USDA’s Market News, the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE), and other key reports that farmers, traders, and agribusinesses rely on to make planting, selling, and risk management decisions are no longer being published. Without these updates, producers are essentially flying blind in volatile markets.

About half of USDA’s 86,000 employees have been furloughed, forcing many local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices to operate at minimal capacity or close entirely. Farmers looking to expand, buy land, or secure operating loans for next season are finding doors closed and timelines uncertain. Even environmental rulemaking at the EPA—which affects agriculture—has stalled, adding another layer of uncertainty.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall sums it up: “This federal shutdown could not come at a worse time for the farm economy. Farmers are facing a serious economic storm right now… These are decisions that cannot be put on hold. Planting, growing, and harvesting seasons do not operate on a Congressional schedule.”

While some nutrition programs (like school meals and food stamps) continue to function, traditional farm businesses are left in the lurch. The longer the shutdown lasts, the more it threatens not just this year’s harvest, but also next season’s planning and the broader rural economy. If Congress doesn’t act soon, the ripple effects could be felt for years to come.