Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in Agriculture

Question 1

Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers

Answer 1

• Works in the interest of the public to ensure socially disadvantaged farmers have equal access to USDA programs

Question 2

What does the Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers do?

Answer 2

• Advises the Secretary on FACT Act of 1990, civil rights, and the participation of socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers in USDA programs

Question 3

Who forms the committee?

Answer 3

• Socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers
• reps from nonprofits
• civil rights professionals

Question 4

How much land did Black farmers own in 1901 and what percentage of farmers did they make up?

Answer 4

• 16 million
• 14%

Question 5

In 2021, how many acres of land did Black farmers own and what percentage of farmers did they make up?

Answer 5

• 4.6 million
• 4%

Question 6

What is one reason Black farmers lost so much land?

Answer 6

• discriminatory lending and aid practices by the USDA
• Heirs’ Property Law
• corporate monopolies in the food chain

Question 7

Heir’s Property Law

Answer 7

• accounts for an estimated 1/3 of Black owned land
• led to 90% of Black owned farm land lost between 1910-97
• cant prove inheritance, you don’t get the land.

Question 8

How many Black farmers were granted loans compared to their white counterparts?

Answer 8

Black–37%
White–71%

Question 9

Average farm acreage for Black farmers compared to white farmers?

Answer 9

Black–132
White–432
USDA extends credit more for larger, wealthier farms

Question 10

What percentage of coronavirus relief aid did Black farmers receive?

Answer 10

1%, even though they account for about 4% about farmers

Question 11

What is the Justice for Black Farmers Act, S.300 (117) say?

Answer 11

Increased oversight and an independent financial institution to provide unbiased lending (combats USDA’s unfair lending)

Question 12

How much farmland do white farmers own according to New York Farm Bureau?

Answer 12

95% of the 2.1 million American Farms

Question 13

According to McKinsey & Company, what type of opportunities can farming bring to rural black families?

Answer 13

Economic!!

Question 14

Median household income for Black families according to McKinsey & Company

Answer 14

$45,438

Question 15

Median income for farmers in 2021

Answer 15

$57, 081, which is 25% greater than Black median household income.

Question 16

What is the median net worth of farmers?

Answer 16

$1,042,855, which is 43 times greater than black households net worth

Question 17

Median Black household net worth

Answer 17

$24,000

Question 18

Median net worth of farmers compared to median net worth of black households

Answer 18

$1,042,855 is 43 times greater than $24,000

Question 19

What are four actions public and private stakeholders do to support Black farmers?

Answer 19

• Increase capital and market access
• Provide estate planning support
• Launch targeted agronomic training programs
• Invest in broadband infrastructure along the Black Belt

Question 20

Increase capital and market access

Answer 20

Provide farmers with access to financing and operating capital or supplier diversity programs

Question 21

Supplier Diversity Programs

Answer 21

Encourages the award of state contracts in a way that strengthens or increases business opportunities for Minority Business Enterprises

Question 22

Agronomic Training Programs

Answer 22

Southern University.
- Small Business Development Certification
- Master Small Ruminant Certification
- Sustainable Urban Agriculture Certification
- Food & Farm Food Safety Certification

Question 23

The Black Belt

Answer 23

region in AL/MS known for fertile soil. place where slavery was strongest before the civil war. home to 18% of black farmers

Question 24

Actions We Can Take to Support the Next Generation of Black Farmers

Answer 24

• Formalize mentorship programs
• Expand educational access and partner with HBCUs
• Increase talent attraction

Question 25

USDA Career Development Education Program

Answer 25

• Announced August 24,2022
• Part of American Rescue Act
• helps underserved producers
• $300 million for Increasing, Land, Capital, and Market Access
• $250 million for the “From Learning to Leading: Cultivating the Next Generation of Diverse Food and Agricultural Professionals”

Question 26

How can we expand educational access and partner with HBCUs in agriculture?

Answer 26

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded $21.8 million to 1890 Land Grant institutions of HBCUs

Question 27

FACT Act of 1990

Answer 27

Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act. Establishes a comprehensive framework in which the Secretary will administer agricultural and food programs.