Black Farmers in America are fighting to save their livelihoods, but that fight is becoming more and more difficult by the day.
Eight months ago, the National Black Farmers Association filed a class action lawsuit against the United States Government. The lawsuit claimed the federal government breached its contract with socially disadvantaged farmers under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which was expected to pay off U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loans held by 15,000 Black, Native American, Alaskan Native, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Hispanic and Latino farmers.
Last summer, Congress repealed section 1005 of ARPA which provides funding and authorization for the federal government to pay up to 120% of direct and guaranteed loan outstanding balances as of January 1, 2021, for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, breaking the government’s promise and leaving farmers in foreclosure. In September, National Black Farmers Association President John Boyd Jr. filed an appealstating the money from the American Rescue Plan Act would have made a real …