African America Farmers Make up Less Than 2% of All U.S. Farmers

In 1910, approximately one in seven farmers were African-American. In the century that followed, there has been a 90% loss of black-owned farmland in the US. As of 2017, black farmers make up just 1.3% of all producers.

The Distribution of Black Farmers in the US, 2017

Percentages of black producers are highest in southern states, such as Mississippi (12%), Louisiana (7%), South Carolina (7%), Alabama (6%),and Georgia (4%). In the majority of other states, this number lies below 2%.

The Demographics of Principle Producers in the US, 2017

Number of Producers

According to the USDA’s 2017 Census of agriculture, 3.2 million producers are white, 95 percent of the U.S. total.

The USDA 2017 Census of Agriculture defines a producer as “a person who is involved in making decisions for the farm operation. Decisions may include decisions about such things as planting, harvesting, livestock management, and marketing”. Demographic data were collected for up to four producers per farm. Each farm has at least one principle producer.

Change in the Percent of Farmers who are Black Over time

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Racial discrimination, exclusion from federal relief programs, and laws furthering inequality have reduced the number of black farmers in America from nearly one million in 1920 to less than 50,000 today .

The United States has a long history of discrimination against Black farmers.

As of 2017, black farmers make up just 1.3% of all producers, even though 13.4% of the US’s population is black. Black farmers struggle in a system where they don’t have equal access to federal relief, less access to credit. This systemic racism dates back to the early 1900s and continues today. This is despite numerous reports finding the USDA and other organizations guilty of racial discrimination.

  • The Agricultural Adjustment Act

    During President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency, the Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA) was established to restore agricultural prosperity during the great depression. Committees were formed that often were made up of white landowners who were interested in obtaining more farmlands for themselves. Black farmers were often excluded from serving on these committees and thus struggled to challenge the decisions made by the committees in their areas. This program created a structure that allowed those in power to allot less land to African American farmers.

    1933

  • Farmers Home Administration

    Farmers Home Administration (FHA), a USDA program, systematically discriminated against farmers by denying them loans. In many cases, this limited the crops that could be grown and thus restricted financial growth.

    1946

  • USDA Office of Civil Rights Eliminated

    The Reagan Administration eliminated the USDA's Office of Civil Rights, denying black farmers any recourse for discrimination claims. The office was not reestablished until 1996.

    1982

  • National Black Farmers Association Demonstration

    The National Black Farmers Association, along with 60 farmers appeared at the white house to protest decades of racial discrimination within the USDA.

    1996

  • Pigford v. Glickman (1999)

    By 1999, a lawsuit was filed on behalf of all black farmers. The result was an agreement to pay $50,000 to each black farmer that participated in the class action. Over 85% of eligible farms never received this money, as they did not know of the settlement in time. Many lost their farms or died before receiving their settlement.

    1999

  • USDA Discrimination Complaints

    Between 2001 and 2008, the USDA received over 14000 filed complaints of discrimination. In 2009, only 760 of these cases are addressed

    2008

  • Congress Secures Another $1.25 Billion in Payments

    Thanks to NBFA’s persistence and advocacy, in 2010 Obama signed a bill approving a $1.25 billion payout to those excluded from the original class action.

    2010

  • USDA Lending to Black Farmers

    The share of loans to going to black farmers falls to 0.8%

    2016

  • Trade War Discrimination

    The Trump administration announced a subsidy program to help farmers during America’s trade war with China. This program has been criticized for disproportionately benefiting wealthy landowners, thus worsening the disadvantages of minority-owned farms. White business owners received 99.5% of these subsidies, overlooking many of the small farm owners who needed it most.

    2019

  • Justice for Black Farmers Act proposed

    Proposed by Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), this act would reform the USDA and provide debt relief while supporting the next generation of black farmers. Access to farmland is among the top barriers for new farmers, and this act would help farmers get more equitable access to land.

    2020

Moving Foward

To this day, government programs and subsidies continue to benefit white upper and middle-class-owned farms, and 98% of today’s farmland is owned by white landowners.

Organizations such as the National Black Farmers Association are fighting for change and can use financial support. You can also use your voice and your vote to support candidates and legislation such as the Justice for Black Farmers Act.

You can also look to support black-owned farms directly through CSAs, volunteering, and donations.

Locations of BIPOC & Minority-owned Farms and Ranches in the USA

Explore the farms and ranches on this map. It includes black-owned farms as well as other people of color, indiginous, and minority-owned farms.

Click on a state to zoom in, hover over points to see more information, & click on points to visit their website

Last Updated April 14, 2021

You can explore and filter these locations and additional resources on the interactive spreadsheet located here.

Know of a farm or ranch that should be added to this map? Submit it here

Recommended Reading & Listening

Farming While Black: Book by Leah Penniman

BIPOC Farmers Podcast Playlist

Timeline: Black Farmers and the USDA, 1920 to Present

Data Souces:

Environmental Working Group. Timeline: Black farmers and the USDA, 1920 - present. Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://www.ewg.org/research/black-farmer-usda-timeline/

National Black Farmers Association. (n.d.). Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://www.nationalblackfarmersassociation.org/

Reynolds, B. J. (2002). Black farmers in America, 1865-2000: The pursuit of independent farming and the role of cooperatives. Washington: United States Rural Business-Cooperative Service.

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2017 Census of Agriculture. Complete data available at www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus.