AGRICULTURE »» FARMING »» BLACK FARMERS »» May 01, 2023

In 2017, there were 48,697 farmers and ranchers who identified as Black - either alone or in combination with another race. These Americans, accounting for only about 1.4% of our 3.4 million producers, mostly reside in Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina and Georgia. However, slavery, sharecropping, discriminatory lending practices and a long history of racial discrimination have created challenges unique to their race. These challenges have long-deterred many prospective Black farmers from either owning farms or prospering from farms they do own. Many Black-owned farms are smaller, more labor intensive, and generate less sales and profits per farm than their peers. Many rely on family members to work and contribute, restricting their ability to invest in education. Advocates say the growth of Black farms is often hindered by insufficient land, capital, and access to credit and business services as well as their lack of access, awareness, and participation in the USDA and other programs that would likely make a significant difference. They also claim the inability of Black Americans to fully participate in the land market has resulted in a lost opportunity for generational wealth creation. Pending Legislation: S.96 - Justice for Black Farmers Act of 2023 Sponsor: Sen. Cory Booker (NJ) Status: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chair: Sen. Debbie Stabenow (MI)