Farm Service Agency
GRAPHIC: Midwestern states received most direct operating loans last year
|
The loans are provided to farmers who don't qualify for credit from other lenders.
Lawsuit challenges rule easing environmental reviews for animal confinements
|
A dozen grassroots organizations have challenged a USDA rule change that would make medium-sized animal confinements exempt from environmental review before receiving government-backed loans from the Farm Services Agency.
Government
Farmers not yet hit by shutdown
|
On Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013, dozens of U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies were closed or limited because of the federal government shutdown. However, agriculture officials said farmers won't be affected by the shutdown just yet.