() The government shutdown has prevented American farmers from receiving some payments and aid, piling on to an industry facing falling crop prices, rising debts and trade wars.

The Department of Agriculture’s contingency plan estimated roughly 42,000 department staff will be furloughed during the shutdown around 49% of its workforce.

USDA’s Farm Service Agency, which handles aid programs for the nation’s growers, will be among the department’s hardest hit. Approximately 6,370 of the 9,460 who work at the agency are expected to be furloughed, according to reports.

Activities deemed critical some lab operations and food safety inspections will continue, while nonmandatory data collection and most research will be halted.

Government shutdown spells ‘farm crisis’: Fourth-generation farmer

Fourth-generation farmer John Boyd Jr., who serves as president of the National Black Farmers Association, told the government shutdown will lead to chaos for already struggling agriculturists.

“I’ve been farming since 1983 in the same county, and you know, my forefathers were slaves. Here, my farm has been in the family for over 100 years,” Boyd said. “And here we can’t get any relief from our federal government.”

Boyd criticized President Donald Trump’s role in the shutdown, hefty tariffs and unmet campaign promises.

“It’s really something that the president said he would do the whole time in his campaign it was ‘help farmers,'” Boyd said. “He loved farmers.”

Last week, Trump announced some tariff revenue would go to U.S. farmers, but no details about the amount of aid or how it would be dispersed have been released.

“Farm suicides are up. Farm bankruptcies are up. Foreclosures are up,” Boyd said. “We need some assistance, and we need it right now.”