Agri-Pulse reports:
USDA Sec’y Tom VilsackUSDA has issued one-time payments totaling about $2 billion to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners across the country who experienced discrimination in farm loan programs or did not receive equitable access to federal resources before the start of the Biden administration.
The funds come from the Inflation Reduction Act’s Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP). Out of 58,000 applications, over 43,000 farmers and ranchers from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories will receive some assistance, USDA said.
Over 23,000 individuals who currently or previously had a farming, ranching or forestland operation are getting between $10,000 and $500,000. Over 20,000 individuals who planned to have a farming or ranching operation, but said they were unable to do so because of challenges getting a USDA loan, are receiving between $3,500 and $6,000 in assistance. All payments are taxable.
The assistance provided through DFAP is not necessarily compensation for an individual’s losses, but is an acknowledgment, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a press call.
“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 to do,” Vilsack said. “For those who were not able to farm or lost their farms, I hope these funds provide some measure of assistance to allow them opportunities to help themselves or their families.”
Mississippi had the most recipients with over 13,000 individuals, followed by Alabama and Oklahoma.
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