Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in Agriculture Flashcards
Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers
- Works in the interest of the public to ensure socially disadvantaged farmers have equal access to USDA programs
What does the Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers do?
- Advises the Secretary on FACT Act of 1990, civil rights, and the participation of socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers in USDA programs
Who forms the committee?
- Socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers
- reps from nonprofits
- civil rights professionals
How much land did Black farmers own in 1901 and what percentage of farmers did they make up?
- 16 million
- 14%
In 2021, how many acres of land did Black farmers own and what percentage of farmers did they make up?
- 4.6 million
- 4%
What is one reason Black farmers lost so much land?
- discriminatory lending and aid practices by the USDA
- Heirs’ Property Law
- corporate monopolies in the food chain
Heir’s Property Law
- 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.
How many Black farmers were granted loans compared to their white counterparts?
Black–37%
White–71%
Average farm acreage for Black farmers compared to white farmers?
Black–132
White–432
USDA extends credit more for larger, wealthier farms
What percentage of coronavirus relief aid did Black farmers receive?
1%, even though they account for about 4% about farmers
What is the Justice for Black Farmers Act, S.300 (117) say?
Increased oversight and an independent financial institution to provide unbiased lending (combats USDA’s unfair lending)
How much farmland do white farmers own according to New York Farm Bureau?
95% of the 2.1 million American Farms
According to McKinsey & Company, what type of opportunities can farming bring to rural black families?
Economic!!
Median household income for Black families according to McKinsey & Company
$45,438
Median income for farmers in 2021
$57, 081, which is 25% greater than Black median household income.
What is the median net worth of farmers?
$1,042,855, which is 43 times greater than black households net worth
Median Black household net worth
$24,000
Median net worth of farmers compared to median net worth of black households
$1,042,855 is 43 times greater than $24,000
What are four actions public and private stakeholders do to support Black farmers?
- Increase capital and market access
- Provide estate planning support
- Launch targeted agronomic training programs
- Invest in broadband infrastructure along the Black Belt
Increase capital and market access
Provide farmers with access to financing and operating capital or supplier diversity programs
Supplier Diversity Programs
Encourages the award of state contracts in a way that strengthens or increases business opportunities for Minority Business Enterprises
Agronomic Training Programs
Southern University.
- Small Business Development Certification
- Master Small Ruminant Certification
- Sustainable Urban Agriculture Certification
- Food & Farm Food Safety Certification
The Black Belt
region in AL/MS known for fertile soil. place where slavery was strongest before the civil war. home to 18% of black farmers
Actions We Can Take to Support the Next Generation of Black Farmers
- Formalize mentorship programs
- Expand educational access and partner with HBCUs
- Increase talent attraction
USDA Career Development Education Program
- 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”
How can we expand educational access and partner with HBCUs in agriculture?
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded $21.8 million to 1890 Land Grant institutions of HBCUs
FACT Act of 1990
Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act. Establishes a comprehensive framework in which the Secretary will administer agricultural and food programs.
