<p>Sixteen days into the making, the government shutdown may finally be coming to an end. Republican House Speaker John Boehner has affirmed that his chamber will not block the Senate plan to end the government shutdown and raise the federal debt.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> “Blocking the bipartisan agreement reached today by members of the Senate will not be a tactic for us,” said Boehner.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> According to the Chicago Tribune, the Senate is expected to vote on the budget deal this evening, sending the measure to the House, which is expected to give the final approval later tonight. A filibuster in the Senate was unlikely as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who had initially demanded a halt or delay in President Obama’s healthcare law in exchange for a bill to keep the government running, indicated that he would not hold up the package.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> The agreement would allow the government to continue borrowing to pay its bills through February 7 and would provide funding to reopen the government and keep it running through January 15, according to Chicago Tribune.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Ultimately however, what does this mean for the produce industry?<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> For starters, growers in Yuma and Imperial may finally have access to H-2A workers as they prepare for the winter vegetable harvest. According to the Western Growers Association, H-2A accounts for a significant percentage of the workforce in that region during that time of year. As the government shutdown ends, the furloughed 80% plus of the staff that processes all H-2A applications can resume work once again. With the added support of these H-2A workers, the harvest for the upcoming winter season may also be back on schedule.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> In addition, discussions on immigration reform, the farm bill, and the Food Safety Modernization Act can also resume.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> With the end of the government shutdown, it seems as though any pressing concerns for the produce industry can finally be alleviated.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for more comments and opinions.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-government-shutdown-20131016,0,1118789.story" target="_new"> Chicago Tribune </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.wga.com/blog/2013/10/15/efforts-continue-mitigate-impacts-shutdown-desert-winter-harvest" target="_new"> Western Growers Association </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
