A U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Native American farmers and ranchers who claimed discrimination by the USDA.
The D.C. Circuit ruling affirms a lower court decision to distribute $380 million from the USDA to Native American farmers who were part of the suit. Plaintiffs’ Attorney Christine Webber tells Brownfield the suit was filed in 1999 because Native American farm loan applicants were turned down, being told they could get loans from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
“In fact, BIA did not provide anything comparable in terms of loans to Native American farmers and ranchers,” said Webber. “Instead it just served to exclude people who are our nation’s first farmers from the opportunity to participate in the important programs that USDA provides to farmers.”
Webber says that since the original 2011 ruling in favor of the plaintiffs, the USDA has made changes.
“We have had reports from our class members in several locations of improvements since the settlement went into effect,” said Webber.
The latest ruling provides payments of $21,275 apiece for the farmers. The balance will be distributed to non-profit organizations that help Native American farmers and ranchers.
Source: brownfieldagnews.com