The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it will no longer consider a farmer's race or sex in many of its programs, citing alignment with the Trump administration's directives and the agency's efforts to address past discrimination. The move aims to uphold principles of meritocracy, fairness, and equal opportunity for all participants. Black farmers and other under-represented groups have alleged discrimination in USDA lending and farm programs, with the agency making payments to farmers who experienced bias as recently as 2024. The rule maintains benefits for beginning and military veteran farmers, but critics argue that it limits opportunities for farmers of color. About 4.5% of U.S. farmers are from under-represented racial groups, according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture.
Source: https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/usda-farmer-race/2025/07/10/id/1218260