Wisconsin Farmer Again Challenges USDA Program Rules as Discriminatory

THE CENTER SQUARE—The U.S. Department of Agriculture continues to discriminate in many of its programs, according to a new letter from the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty.

Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty wrote the letter telling the USDA that it will file a lawsuit if the issue is not corrected within 60 days.

Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty represents Chilton farmer Adam Faust, stating that Faust is not eligible to benefit from a dozen USDA race-based programs because he is a white farmer.

“USDA offers important resources for dairy farmers, including margin coverage, loan guarantees and grants,” Faust said. “But it is outrageous that some farmers get a better deal based on race. I am hopeful the Trump Administration will change course and fix these discriminatory programs.”

Faust previously successfully challenged USDA rules for programs under President Joe Biden’s administration through Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty.

The USDA does not charge a Dairy Margin Coverage administrative fee to American Indians or Alaskan Natives, Asians or Asian Americans, blacks or African Americans, Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, and women.

But it does charge the fee to white farmers when the margin between the milk price and the average feed cost falls below a coverage level chosen by the producer.

The USDA Loan Guarantee Program allows farmers like Faust a guarantee of 90% of the value of the loan while women and minorities receive a 95% guarantee. That percentage difference means higher interest rates and loan costs, and lower overall loan amounts.

“The Trump administration has taken some commendable steps to root out race discrimination in many agencies, but we have a long way to go,” said Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty Deputy Counsel Dan Lennington. “Millions of farmers face economic uncertainty, from unpredictable weather to rising input costs, all of which are far beyond their control, only then to be punished economically because of their race. It’s immoral, unconstitutional, and it’s time for it to stop once and for all. The clock is ticking, and we won’t hesitate to take the Trump administration to court to protect farmers from race discrimination.”

The USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program allows all farmers to participate but Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty wrote that “socially disadvantaged farmers” may receive more money for participating in the exact same way.

Originally published by The Center Square

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