Federal shutdown delays USDA crop reports

By SCOTT McFETRIDGE

Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Friday that it must delay the release of key crop reports due to the partial government shutdown, leaving investors and farmers without vital information during an already tumultuous time for agricultural markets.

The USDA had planned to release the closely watched reports Jan. 11 but said that even if the shutdown ended immediately, the agency’s staff wouldn’t have time to release the reports as scheduled. Congressional leaders met with President Donald Trump Friday but there were no indicatio...