Black farmers demand federal help before next planting season

Jet, Jan 12, 1998

With only a few months before the planting season, thousands of Black farmers awaited the issuance of funds for housing, tools and seeds promised by President Clinton during a White House meeting.

Just prior to the meeting, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman outlined budget requests totaling more than $600 million in loans and programs to improve his department's civil rights program.

Glickman said the president's request for next year's agricultural budget will include $85 million in direct farm ownership, an increase of 86% over 1998 levels, and for $500 million in direct operating loans.

The administration also will seek $10 million for outreach training and technical assistance for small farmers, up $3 million from fiscal 1998. A permanent federal advisory committee on civil rights also will be created to advise the Agriculture Department on civil rights.

John W. Boyd, Jr., president of the National Black Farmers Association, said that the announcement was a step in the right direction, "but didn't go far enough."

Under Secretary Glickman's leadership, the department last year closed 141 discrimination complaints over denial of loans and other benefits. This included 11 major settlements totaling $3.5 million. There remains 950 complaints to be investigated and resolved.

Virginia Rep. Robert C. Scott said that he was disappointed that there is an apparent disconnection between policies set by the Secretary and the actions of local field offices who are dragging their feet.

Rep. Scott has demanded action on cases that have not been addressed at the department dating back to 1983 and now face the question of the statute of limitations.