U.S. farmers

A plan to disperse Washington-based USDA jobs to five hubs, including Kansas City and Indianapolis, is making waves across agriculture. Critics say the shakeup could hobble the agency, while proponents say it will move staff closer to farmers and save money.

Speaking to Missouri farmers during a roundtable discussion Friday, Arkansas Sen. John Boozman said he’d like to consider a one-year extension to pass the bill.

The leaders of both congressional agriculture committees say federal lawmakers will move back farm bill negotiations to December. The current law expires Saturday, but experts say there should be little peril despite the blown deadline.

By Frank MorrisThanks to high commodity prices and surging productivity, U.S. farmers earned a net income of nearly $98 billion last year — a record,…