Minority Farmer Support
3 Ways the USDA Discriminated against Farmers (and what they're doing to make things right)
The USDA has admitted to discriminating against minority farmers. A $2.2 Billion dollar fund has been created for Black, Hispanic, Native American and Women farmers who experienced any form of discrimination while applying for a USDA farm loan.
The USDA has indicated that they plan to make cash payouts by early next year. But, farmers must qualify by January 13th, 2024.
The USDA allegedly discriminated against minorities in many ways. Just a few of them include:
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Denying loans to minority farmers without providing a reason
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Charging minority farmers higher interest rates on loans
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Discouraging loan applications altogether
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Requiring special access or funds to be placed in a holding account
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Frequent check-ins or revenue reporting requirements
Minority farmers were blocked from growth and opportunity, which stunted an entire community from growing their wealth and land ownership. This discrimination also led to thousands of foreclosures on Black, Hispanic, Native American and Women-owned farms.
Today, Black farmers own less than .5% of the land in the United States, even though they make up about 13% of the population.
How the Discrimination Happened
The USDA has set aside a total of $2.2 billion to compensate minority farmers that experienced discrimination while applying for loans; some people may receive cash awards of up to $500,000 in compensation.
This program applies even to those who were unable to purchase land and begin farming or had to sell or foreclose on their land.
If you or someone you know is a minority farmer and applied for a USDA farming loan, sign up for a compensation claim. The USDA has plans to issue cash payouts by early next year to farmers who qualify before the deadline.
Signing up for a claim is free. Visit this page for more information or to sign up in 2 to 3 minutes.
What Happens Now?
