The U.S. government shutdown reached its 37th day on Thursday, November 6, becoming the longest in the country’s history. The budget impasse —caused by the failure to pass a new federal budget— has already generated an estimated economic impact of over US$ 7 billion, according to official and private estimates.
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is operating at minimal capacity, affecting rural credit, crop insurance, and technical assistance programs. In a statement, the agency warned that the shutdown also compromises the SNAP food assistance program, food inspection, animal and plant health protection, and the management of federal lands.
One of the most significant consequences for agribusiness is the absence of official data. The lack of the USDA’s monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report has left producers, traders, and analysts without a key reference on production, consumption, and exports, creating uncertainty in international price formation.
In October, the USDA also failed to release its first global outlook for production, consumption, and trade of the main meats for 2026.
According to analyst Carlos Cogo, no other organization matches the USDA’s accuracy and scope: “Nothing can replace the consistency of U.S. data,” he said. The department plans to resume publishing its reports on November 14, although the market is already showing divergences in real harvest, export, and stock levels.
Source: Estadão
