Minnesota State Wire

Brad Finstad, Representative of Minnesota, announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will resume core Farm Service Agency (FSA) operations to support loans, programs, and harvests despite the government shutdown. This statement was made on X.

"Great news for America's farmers," said Bradley Howard Finstad, U.S. Representative of Minnesota's 1st Congressional District (R). "President Trump is putting producers first. USDA is resuming critical Farm Service Agency operations to keep loans, programs, and harvests moving despite the Democrat shutdown."

In late October 2025, the USDA revealed plans to reopen approximately 2,100 FSA offices nationwide to restore "core operations" during the shutdown. According to the Associated Press, each office would be staffed by two employees to process essential services such as marketing loans, disaster aid, and Agricultural Risk Coverage/Price Loss Coverage (ARC/PLC) payments. Approximately $3 billion in delayed support was released to farmers as part of this initiative. The move aimed to stabilize farm credit and harvest operations amid the funding lapse.

USDA data reviewed by DTN/Progressive Farmer indicate that in Fiscal Year 2024, the FSA issued 24,555 loans totaling $5.39 billion. These figures illustrate the program’s scale when shutdowns interrupt funding. ARC/PLC program records show about $3 billion in payments resumed once offices reopened in October 2025. These numbers underscore how essential FSA’s daily functions are for rural credit flow and farm income stability.

A comparison of USDA statements shows that the October 2025 reopening echoed the response during the 2018–2019 shutdown but lasted longer. As reported by Civil Eats, USDA again relied on Commodity Credit Corporation funds to resume limited service, including loan and payment processing. A USDA press release from 2019 confirms a similar three-day recall of 2,500 FSA staff before full reopening, illustrating a recurring emergency pattern.

Representative Brad Finstad serves Minnesota’s 1st District and is a member of the House Committee on Agriculture. According to his official biography, he is a fourth-generation farmer and former state legislator who emphasizes rural development and oversight of USDA programs. In 2025, he supported Agriculture Committee measures to sustain farm safety nets and FSA operations during the shutdown.

Minnesota agriculture produces corn, soybeans, dairy products, and hogs across 25 million acres and approximately 65,000 farms. According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, producers depend heavily on FSA loans and ARC/PLC safety-net programs. The Minnesota FSA highlights ongoing sign-ups for these programs in 2025 and risk-coverage enrollment efforts demonstrate their vital role during harvest disruptions.