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 this month. The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans $4 billion in debt relief as part of the latest pandemic stimulus package.

The debt relief is designed to address a well-established history of discrimination against Black, Indigenous and other farmers of color.

 going back to the 1920s have documented how little access to government help farmers of color have had compared to their white counterparts. During that same time period, the proportion of Black farmers in the U.S. has shrunk from

 are upset that they won’t make as much money if farmers of color are allowed to pay off the debt early. Some white farmers are

 to get the USDA to remove the race classification from the program, saying it’s reverse discrimination.  

Meanwhile, many Black farmers say the program

 and that they are skeptical that the payments will actually materialize.

Tuesday, host Kerri Miller and two experts discussed why the program is needed and what it means for farmers who’ve struggled to make the system work for them. 

To listen to the full conversation you can use the audio player above.

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This month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is poised to give money to farmers of color for debt relief. Some say it’s an unfair stimulus. Others say it’s a much-needed form of reparations, after decades of systemic discrimination.

Debt relief for Black farmers and other farmers of color

Three men stand with signs in front of a tractor.

Debt relief for Black farmers and other farmers of color

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