USDA Preference to Women and Minorities Questioned
With your Southeast Regional Ag News, I am Haylie Shipp. This is the Ag Information Network.
A Texas federal judge has temporarily blocked a USDA disaster relief program from giving preferential funding to women and minority farmers. The judge sided with a group of plaintiffs who claimed the program illegally discriminates against white male farmers. The judge’s order ruled the program likely violated the plaintiffs’ constitutional rights to equal protection under the law.
Agriculture Dive (https://tinyurl.com/bdhaxeh6) says he halted the USDA from making payments or providing additional relief to people based on its “socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher” designation until a resolution has been reached. The ruling follows a lawsuit from Texas farmers who claimed they would have received more funding under disaster and pandemic relief programs had they been another race or gender.
Critics say the ruling is a step backwards. The USDA says the program reflects the Farm Service Agency’s interest in remedying past discrimination.
The action against the USDA program is reminiscent of a ruling in June 2021 when a pair of judges blocked a separate debt relief program for minority farmers. Congress ultimately altered the programs, granting debt relief based on economic need instead of race.
