Posted on Jun 29, 2022
One year later, farmers of color are still waiting on billions of federal relief dollars
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The American Rescue Plan promised $4 billion in debt relief to “socially disadvantaged farmers.” But a swarm of lawsuits from banks and white farmers alleging discrimination has put the aid on hold.
Barbara Norman remembers exactly how she felt when she first opened the letter from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It was a cold, drab day on her farm in Covert, Michigan. But the letter brightened everything.
It forgave more than a half million dollars she owed the department for various loans she’s taken out over the years.
“I was so relieved … it was amazing,” she said, recalling her initial reaction upon opening the letter.
Barbara Norman remembers exactly how she felt when she first opened the letter from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It was a cold, drab day on her farm in Covert, Michigan. But the letter brightened everything.
It forgave more than a half million dollars she owed the department for various loans she’s taken out over the years.
“I was so relieved … it was amazing,” she said, recalling her initial reaction upon opening the letter.
One year later, farmers of color are still waiting on billions of federal relief dollars
Posted from kcur.org
Farming
Agriculture
Lawsuit
Discrimination
Society
Posted 2 y ago
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Yeah....because white farmers have been getting government help for years they can't have black people getting that money too.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Norman has seen many farms foreclosed on over the years, but she’s hopeful she won’t be one of them. After all, the land upon which she operates Barbara’s Blueberry Batch represents more than just her livelihood — it’s her family’s financial safety net.
Norman said this latest legal battle could lead to even more loss.
“If this American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 is not adhered to, not taken care of, it says volumes of distrust, volumes of hurt, of pain to the farmers of color in America,” she said.
Norman said she won’t pass the farm down to the next generation unless it’s debt-free. So without the ARPA debt relief, her family could be next in the long line of farmers of color who’ve sunk under the weight of debt and lost their farms as a result. She’s determined to not let that happen.
“I pray every day,” she said. “I’m going to keep fighting.”
..."Norman has seen many farms foreclosed on over the years, but she’s hopeful she won’t be one of them. After all, the land upon which she operates Barbara’s Blueberry Batch represents more than just her livelihood — it’s her family’s financial safety net.
Norman said this latest legal battle could lead to even more loss.
“If this American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 is not adhered to, not taken care of, it says volumes of distrust, volumes of hurt, of pain to the farmers of color in America,” she said.
Norman said she won’t pass the farm down to the next generation unless it’s debt-free. So without the ARPA debt relief, her family could be next in the long line of farmers of color who’ve sunk under the weight of debt and lost their farms as a result. She’s determined to not let that happen.
“I pray every day,” she said. “I’m going to keep fighting.”
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