Payout Coming for Minority Farmers

The Biden administration is making it rain with $2B in direct payments for Black and other minority farmers who have faced discrimination by the USDA in farm loan programs or didn’t receive equitable access to federal resources prior to the Biden administration.

The deets: More than 23K farmers have received payment approvals for amounts between $10K and $500K. An additional 20K people who planned to start a farm but didn’t receive a USDA loan will get between $3,500 and $6K. The majority of the aid will go to farmers in Alabama and Mississippi.

Soundbite: “My hope is that this financial assistance will help many farmers stay on their farms, contribute to our nation’s food supply, and continue to do what they love.” — Tom Vilsack, Ag Secretary

Zoom out: While Secretary Vilsack didn’t provide many details on recipients, he said the program looked at all types of discrimination such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and religion. Application criteria included the extent, nature, and timing of the discrimination; the type and size of the farming operation; and whether farms or homes were lost.

National Black Farmers Association Founder and President John Boyd Jr. said the aid is helpful, but not enough. 

Soundbite: “It’s like putting a bandage on somebody that needs open-heart surgery,” Boyd said. “We want our land, and I want to be very, very clear about that.” are saying the proposed rule is winging it.