Traders began the first trading day of 2019 figuratively wearing the blindfold resulting from the lack of USDA information due to the partial government shutdown, which in now in its 13th day. This afternoon, President Trump is meeting again with congressional leaders of both parties in another effort to resolve the dispute over paying for the Mexican border wall that is blocking efforts to fund the departments of the government now shut down. Before the meeting, Trump indicated he was prepared for an extended government shutdown unless Congress, which is to say congressional Democrats, agree to his demands. We see no sign that this will happen, and both sides appear to be firmly dug in. Obviously, some sort of a compromise has to be reache...