The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has opened the application process for farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to January 2021. The program will provide financial assistance to eligible applicants.
To be eligible, borrowers must have experienced discrimination by USDA in its farm loan programs prior to January 1, 2021 and/or be currently debtors with assigned or assumed USDA farm loan debt that was the subject of USDA discrimination that occurred prior to January 1, 2021.
The application process is open from July 7, 2023 to October 31, 2023. Applicants can apply via the e-filing portal at 22007apply.gov or submit paper-based forms via mail or in-person delivery to the program’s local offices.
USDA is also providing technical assistance to producers throughout the application process. These groups include AgrAbility, Farmer Veteran Coalition, Farmers’ Legal Action Group, Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Intertribal Agriculture Council, Land Loss Prevention Program, National Young Farmers Coalition, and Rural Coalition.
No attorneys’ fees will be paid to applicants or their counsel by USDA or by any other agency or department of the United States. The amount of financial assistance will not be increased for those claimants who are represented by an attorney. Applicants are not required to retain an attorney.
For more information, read our fact sheet about the program timeline and ways to protect against possible scams.
To learn more about the program, visit the USDA website.
Photo Credit: USDA
Categories: Illinois, Business