News

Black Farmers Association supports bills to increase aid and fairness

The president of the National Black Farmers Association says they strongly support two bills introduced in Congress to increase aid and fairness for minority farmers.

Dr. John Boyd tells Brownfield the Emergency Relief for Farmers of Color Act, cosponsored by Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock contains portions of Senator Corey Booker’s bill that has just been reintroduced, the Black Farmers for Justice Act.

“Both bills are very, very important. With all of these bills it’s always interesting to see how they will be rolled out and implemented and understood by the Department of Agriculture. So that’s where things always get a little sticky for us.”

Boyd says HOW the USDA, which has a history of discrimination of black and minority farmers, will implement these bills – if passed – is critical.

Boyd says he’s talked recently with former Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, whose confirmation as Ag Secretary under Biden appears certain, saying he will follow Vilsack’s actions closely, “I would like to see deputies and under secretaries who are people who would be sensitive to moving along the policies that this administration says they want to put forward.”

Boyd, who criticized former Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue for “doing nothing” to advance black and minority farmers, says the farm foreclosure piece, along with outreach and technical assistance in the legislation are very important.

Boyd says he wants fairness for all farmers. The National Black Farmers Association has 116-thousand members.

USDA Chief of Staff has issued statement support the Emergency Relief for Farmers of Color Act.

Interview with John Boyd, below: