Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices will reopen on October 23. The administration will also release $3 billion in aid to farmers.

The funds were previously frozen due to the government shutdown. They will come from the Commodity Credit Corporation.

Rollins stated that FSA offices will resume core operations, including farm loan processing and ARC/PLC payments. However, staffing will be limited to two employees per office. They will be funded through carry-over balances.

The reopening comes as the three-week shutdown continues to stall most USDA operations. Congress remains deadlocked over a funding measure.

Before the shutdown, lawmakers had approved $13 billion to replenish the Commodity Credit Corp. This paved the way for broader farmer assistance amid low commodity prices, high input costs, and trade disputes with China.

More than 200 farm organizations recently urged the president to provide additional financial relief. They cited increased bankruptcies and economic strain in rural America.

Read more about the reopening of FSA offices and processing of ARC/PLC payments here.