The United States Department of Agriculture will reopen roughly 2,100 county offices across the nation on Thursday so farmers and ranchers can access $3 billion in aid, according to the Associated Press.
The offices were closed during the federal government shutdown, but the USDA said each Farm Service Agency office will reopen with two paid workers to help farmers apply for farm loans, crop insurance and other programs.
The USDA said each Farm Service Agency office will have two workers who will be paid even though the government remains shutdown. These offices help farmers apply for farm loans, crop insurance, disaster aid and other programs. Thousands of other federal employees like air traffic controllers are working without pay during the shutdown.
President Donald Trump had recently suggested importing Argentine beef while farmers across the U.S. struggle amid tariffs. Everything from soybeans to cranberries has felt the pressure of tariffs and an uncertain economic climate.
