By Leah Douglas, P.J. Huffstutter and Julie Ingwersen
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Market-sensitive commodity data reports released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and nutrition programs that feed millions of Americans could be vulnerable to disruption if the federal government shuts down early Wednesday morning.
During shutdowns, nonessential government employees are typically furloughed or placed on temporary unpaid leave. Workers deemed essential, including those dealing with public safety, food safety, and national security, keep working.
The U.S. Congress has until Tuesday to pass legislation keeping the federal government open or trigger a partial shutdown. During past shutdowns, market-sensitive reports issued by the USDA and other government agencies were suspended.
The USDA told Reuters it is “prepared for all contingencies regarding department operations, including critical services and supports” if the government shuts down, but did not respond to questions about specific reports and programs. The agency has also not published updated shutdown plans; the most current on its website are for fiscal year 2024.
Below is a primer on how basic agency operations and nutrition programs would be affected by a shutdown based on the most recent available information, and a schedule of USDA reports planned for release on and after October 1.
AGENCY OPERATIONS
During a shutdown, about 41% of USDA staff would continue working, according to the agency’s 2024 planning documents.
Activities deemed mission-critical, like food safety inspections and some lab operations, would continue, while efforts like non-mandatory data collection and most research, would cease, the documents show. Some limited animal disease prevention and surveillance efforts would continue, but the documents do not detail the agency’s approach to specific diseases such as bird flu and New World screwworm.
The agency would halt issuance of new farm loans, but maintain some operations of the Farm Service Agency depending on the length of a shutdown, the documents show.
FOOD BENEFIT PROGRAMS
Administration of the nation’s largest food aid program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, would continue during a shutdown and the Office of Management and Budget would issue reserve funding as needed, according to the 2024 documents.
Operations of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC, would also continue, though the program is low on funds and participants could experience disruptions if a shutdown lasts longer than a week, according to the National WIC Association.
UPCOMING COMMODITY DATA REPORTS
Wednesday, October 1:
Monthly reports on U.S. grain crushings and fats and oils, including U.S. soy crushings, released by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service on the first business day of each month at 3 p.m. ET (1900 GMT).
NASS referred Reuters questions about which data reports would continue during a shutdown to the agency press office, which did not provide details on possible disruptions. Last fall, under the Biden administration, NASS officials told Reuters the agency generally does not release any reports during a shutdown.
Weekly crude oil inventory data released by the Energy Information Administration, which includes figures on production and stocks of corn-based ethanol, released at 10:30 a.m. ET (1430 GMT). The EIA did not respond to a request for comment on whether the report will be disrupted.
Thursday, October 2:
Weekly U.S. export sales data, released by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service each Thursday at 8:30 a.m. ET (1230 GMT).
The FAS did not respond to a request for comment on whether the report will be disrupted. In the past, this report has been suspended and not released in the event of a shutdown.
Friday, October 3:
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments of Traders reports, which detail the size of positions in options and futures, released each Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET (1930 GMT).
The CFTC did not respond to a request for comment on whether the report will be disrupted. Previous shutdowns have caused delays in CFTC’s publishing schedule.
Monday, October 6:
Weekly grain and oilseed export inspections data gathered by federal grain inspectors, released by the Agricultural Marketing Service every Monday at 11 a.m. ET (1600 GMT). The AMS did not respond to a request for comment on whether the report will be disrupted.
Weekly crop progress reports from NASS that track the planting and harvest pace for major crops, along with crop condition ratings, released every Monday at 4 p.m. ET (2000 GMT).
Thursday, October 9:
The USDA’s World Agricultural Outlook Board is scheduled to release its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report at noon ET (1600 GMT). The report is closely monitored by traders for updated estimates of the supply and use of U.S. and global staple crops. The USDA Office of the Chief Economist did not respond to a request for comment on whether the WASDE report will be released in the event of a shutdown.
A monthly U.S. crop production report by NASS is set for release at the same time, detailing acreage, yield and production estimates for major crops including corn, soybeans and wheat.
Friday, October 24:
NASS’s monthly Cattle on Feed report, which includes the number of cattle in U.S. feedlots, and its monthly Cold Storage report, detailing the amount of meat, dairy products and other goods stored in refrigerated warehouses, are both released at 3 p.m. ET (2000 GMT).
Friday, October 31:
NASS’s monthly Agricultural Prices report, which shows prices that farmers have received for their crops and livestock, among other things, released at 3 p.m. ET (2000 GMT).
(Reporting By Leah Douglas in Washington and P.J. Huffstutter and Julie Ingwersen in Chicago; Additional reporting by Tim Gardner in Washington; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
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