federal shutdown

Today is the 35th day of the partial government shutdown. For New York Republican congressman Tom Reed that’s 35 days too long.

Beginning January 26, Farm Service Agency offices across New York and Pennsylvania will reopen. Nationwide, the USDA is recalling almost 10,000 workers to help farmers affected by the partial federal shutdown.

As the partial government shutdown enters its fifth week, the effects are spreading throughout Southern Tier and Finger Lakes communities.

New Yorkers who receive federal food assistance, also known SNAP, will get their February payments early. SNAP, which a federal program and part of the Agriculture Department, is caught up in the federal shutdown, but earlier this month the USDA instructed states to issue the February payments early.