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Georgia farmers face tough start to the year following government shutdown

Since the United States Department of Agriculture's local service centers are closed, farmers can't apply for federal loans.

DOOLY COUNTY, Ga. — Eddie Green is a crop and cattle farmer in Unadilla.

Around this time of year, he plans out his finances, but the federal shutdown isn't making that easy.

"Early in the year is typically a time where farmers are working to obtaining their financing for the year. Since these loan programs are not currently active, it's got a lot of farmers at a standstill as far as obtaining the income that they need," Green said.

Since the United States Department of Agriculture's local service offices are closed, farmers can't apply for federal loan programs. 

Green says he can't even pay back an existing loan for his corn crop.

"I sold some of the corn last week, and now I need to repay the loan on those bushels that I sold and I can't go in and repay that loan. It's costing me additional interest each day that I can't pay that loan," Green said.

Georgia Cotton Commission Spokesman Taylor Sills says farmers are still recovering from Hurricane Michael. 

With the shutdown, this year is already off to a tough start.

"We might see some farmers not be able to operate this year because they can't get the financing they need," Sills said.

Green's cattle and crop farm has been in his family for over 6 generations. He been farming for over 25 years, and he says, by far, this is the toughest year he's ever experienced.

"Maybe back during the Depression, those times might've been harder than we're facing right now, but right now, times are tougher financially than I personally have ever seen it," Green said.

He hopes for a resolution soon so he can carry on his family's legacy.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced he would extend the deadline for farmers to apply for tariff-bailout payments, once the shutdown ends.

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