WASHINGTON (AP) The end of 2018 seemed to signal good things to come for Americas farmers. Fresh off the passage of the farm bill, which reauthorized agriculture, conservation and safety net programs, the USDA last week announced a second round of direct payments to growers hardest hit by President Donald Trumps trade war with China.
Then the government shut down.
The USDA in a statement issued last week assured farmers that checks would continue to go out during the first week of the shutdown. But direct payments for farmers who havent certified production, as well as…
