The Department of Agriculture last week announced $71 million in new grant funding aimed at helping “disadvantaged” and “underserved” farmers and ranchers, which the USDA said is in its efforts to ensure “equality and justice for all.” Supports comprehensive mission.
“We are committed to creating a separate USDA,” USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said Friday. “One who is steadfast in our actions, mindset and culture around equality and justice for all. We not only need to envision a different future, but also a path to make it possible.”
About half of the grant funding was distributed under a program created in the 1990 Farm Bill to help “underserved farmers, ranchers and foresters” who historically had limited access to USDA programs. About $194 million worth of these grants have been disbursed since 2010.
Among the grants announced last week were $750,000 to a non-profit in Alabama that helps educate “African American farmers and other low-income people” about USDA aid programs. Another $750,000 went to a nonprofit in California he provides “Cultural Sensitive Agricultural Education Program” for “Socially Disadvantaged Farmers”.
A similar amount went to a group based in the Mid-Atlantic, a project to leverage its supply chain aggregation capability and technical support expertise to increase the bulk preparation and representation of Black, Brown and other farmers in the Mid-Atlantic. Will drive The region’s food gathering supply chain. ,
Other grants went to like-minded groups that would encourage black farmers and others to “get equal access” to USDA programs, and ensure they are “participating equally” in those programs.
Tens of millions of dollars were distributed under a USDA program created by the 2021 American Rescue Plan, which aims to ensure “equitable participation in the full range of USDA programs” by underserved farmers. The money went to universities and non-profit groups that provide technical assistance to black, socially disadvantaged, and Native American agricultural producers.
For example, $2.3 million in grant money to a Minnesota nonprofit that will help “farmers of color and Sudanese and Somali audiences.” Another $3.5 million went to a group in Washington state that would focus on “Spanish-speaking Latino and Hispanic immigrant farmers” to help new and socially disadvantaged farmers.
The USDA’s announcement fits with the Biden administration’s agenda of broad diversity, equity, inclusion and access, which is given close attention in the USDA given the department’s allegations of discrimination against black farmers. In 2010, President Obama signed legislation that funded a settlement agreement that awarded $1.25 billion to thousands of black farmers who said the department unfairly denied them farm loans and other support because of their race. deprived of.
When the bill became law, Vilsack was USDA secretary under Obama, and on Friday, as USDA secretary to President Biden, he said the new grant funding is another step toward equality.
“This is a huge step in the right direction as the Biden-Harris administration continues to ensure that underserved groups can more fully access and participate in federal programs and services,” he said.