Black Farmers Settlement Update Coming
Department of Agriculture To Send Out Payment Notices
August 8, 2013
by Deborah Barfield Berry
Daily World Newspaper
WHERE THEY FARM
Many of the payments are expected to go to farmers in
Mississippi and Alabama, where more black farmers are concentrated.
More than 40,000 farmers filed claims, including some from Louisiana.
For more information, farmers can call (877) 810-8110.
About 18,000 black farmers, mostly in the South, are expected to receive notice later this month they will receive payments as part of a landmark $1.2 billion discrimination settlement with the Department of Agriculture.
The lead lawyers for the farmers were expected Friday to submit a formal report from the claims administrator, including final payment figures, to U.S. District Court in Washington.
“They need to go ahead and expedite these payments so the farmers won’t have to continue to wait,” said John Boyd, president of the National Black Farmers Association. “Here it is planting season has come and gone and the farmers still don’t have their money… These farmers are frustrated.”
It’s been more than two years since President Barack Obama signed the settlement into law. Congress approved the settlement in 2010 in what has become known as “the Pigford case.”
The case against federal agriculture officials found the agency denied loans and other assistance for years to black farmers because of their race.
Second Round
The settlement marks the second round of payments for black farmers. Thousands received payments as part of a 1999 class-action settlement. The second round, dubbed Pigford II, will pay farmers who missed the first filing deadline.
The maximum payment is $62,500, including $50,000 for the claim and $12,500 for taxes. The filing deadline was last May.
Many of the payments are expected to go to farmers in Mississippi and Alabama, where more black farmers are concentrated. More than 40,000 farmers filed claims, including some from Louisiana.
Of the $1.2 billion, about $91 million was approved for attorney fees.
“They need to make sure the black farmers get their payment right with theirs,” Boyd said of the lawyers.
Lawyers for the farmers have said claims were being reviewed by a court-approved mediation and arbitration firm. The process has taken longer than initially projected.
Advocates for the farmers said they expected the process would take about a year. Farmers originally were told payments could arrive by late 2012.
Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, who pushed for the settlement in Congress, said he remains “deeply concerned with the length of time that it has taken to resolve these discrimination claims.”
He called on lawyers for the farmers, the claims administrator and federal agriculture and justice officials to move more quickly to resolve any issues.
“Justice for these individuals should not be delayed further,” Thompson said in a statement.
The lead attorneys recently updated Thompson and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus about the status of the payments.
Boyd said he also met with caucus members to relay the concerns of farmers. He met with Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., and staff from Thompson’s office.
“I know black farmers are frustrated with the delays in the Pigford II settlement payments. I am frustrated, too,” said Clyburn. “But there were safeguards built into the legislation to ensure all of the claims are thoroughly vetted in an effort to be good stewards of public funds.”
Some farmers also have complained they haven’t been updated often enough.
“Enough of the excuses,” Boyd said. “We’ve jumped every hurdle there is to jump.”
For more information, farmers can call (877) 810-8110.
Department of Agriculture To Send Out Payment Notices
August 8, 2013
by Deborah Barfield Berry
Daily World Newspaper
 |
| John Boyd, President of the National Black Farmers Association |
Many of the payments are expected to go to farmers in
Mississippi and Alabama, where more black farmers are concentrated.
More than 40,000 farmers filed claims, including some from Louisiana.
For more information, farmers can call (877) 810-8110.
About 18,000 black farmers, mostly in the South, are expected to receive notice later this month they will receive payments as part of a landmark $1.2 billion discrimination settlement with the Department of Agriculture.
The lead lawyers for the farmers were expected Friday to submit a formal report from the claims administrator, including final payment figures, to U.S. District Court in Washington.
“They need to go ahead and expedite these payments so the farmers won’t have to continue to wait,” said John Boyd, president of the National Black Farmers Association. “Here it is planting season has come and gone and the farmers still don’t have their money… These farmers are frustrated.”
It’s been more than two years since President Barack Obama signed the settlement into law. Congress approved the settlement in 2010 in what has become known as “the Pigford case.”
The case against federal agriculture officials found the agency denied loans and other assistance for years to black farmers because of their race.
Second Round
The settlement marks the second round of payments for black farmers. Thousands received payments as part of a 1999 class-action settlement. The second round, dubbed Pigford II, will pay farmers who missed the first filing deadline.
The maximum payment is $62,500, including $50,000 for the claim and $12,500 for taxes. The filing deadline was last May.
Many of the payments are expected to go to farmers in Mississippi and Alabama, where more black farmers are concentrated. More than 40,000 farmers filed claims, including some from Louisiana.
Of the $1.2 billion, about $91 million was approved for attorney fees.
“They need to make sure the black farmers get their payment right with theirs,” Boyd said of the lawyers.
Lawyers for the farmers have said claims were being reviewed by a court-approved mediation and arbitration firm. The process has taken longer than initially projected.
Advocates for the farmers said they expected the process would take about a year. Farmers originally were told payments could arrive by late 2012.
He called on lawyers for the farmers, the claims administrator and federal agriculture and justice officials to move more quickly to resolve any issues.
“Justice for these individuals should not be delayed further,” Thompson said in a statement.
The lead attorneys recently updated Thompson and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus about the status of the payments.
Boyd said he also met with caucus members to relay the concerns of farmers. He met with Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., and staff from Thompson’s office.
“I know black farmers are frustrated with the delays in the Pigford II settlement payments. I am frustrated, too,” said Clyburn. “But there were safeguards built into the legislation to ensure all of the claims are thoroughly vetted in an effort to be good stewards of public funds.”
Some farmers also have complained they haven’t been updated often enough.
“Enough of the excuses,” Boyd said. “We’ve jumped every hurdle there is to jump.”
For more information, farmers can call (877) 810-8110.
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