The History

 

Over the last century, Black farmers have become severely underrepresented in farming and farm ownership.

  • Black farm ownership declined from 10 million acres in 1930 to 1.9 million in 2022.

  • Today, black farmers represent 1.34% of farmers in the United States, while the Black population across the country hovers around 13.4%.

  • Additionally, between 2009 and 2016, Black farmers received .07% less of the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) lending than between 2001 and 2008. 

    Although this may not seem like a large drop in percentage, it indicates that Black farmers could have received $28 million more in financing than they did.

Across the Northeast,
the average income for Black farms is
$4,024 vs. $21,356 for all farms

 

The data demonstrates that the underrepresentation of black farmers is a direct result of documented historical discrimination THROUGH PRACTICES SUCH AS REDLINING, CREDIT DENIAL,

 

Supporting Black food actors with capital resources is essential to addressing these systemic barriers.