Federal aid to black farmers

The Biden administration has announced over $2 billion in payments to more than 23,000 Black and minority farmers who faced discrimination from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Payments will range between $10,000 and $500,000 for eligible farmers, with additional support for those who planned to start farms but were denied loans. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack stated that these funds are an acknowledgment of past discrimination rather than reparations for losses suffered. The National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) has hailed this as a significant victory, although its president, John Boyd Jr., emphasized that it does not fully address the deep-rooted issues faced by Black farmers, including ongoing discrimination in access to loans. Despite this progress, Boyd and others continue to fight for comprehensive debt relief and policy changes to ensure equitable treatment in agriculture. The payments come as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, aimed at rectifying historical injustices within the USDA.