Advocate on tap to sign them up
JANS — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending the deadline for the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program to January 13, 2024, to give eligible farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners more time to apply for assistance. The original deadline was October 31, 2023.
This deadline extension is responsive to feedback from potential applicants, nongovernmental program administrators, and community-based organizations working closely with USDA to inform and assist eligible individuals. The new deadline will allow more time to reach and help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners through direct, no-cost technical assistance and training sessions.
To assist Hinds County landowners, the Jackson Advocate will host a free outreach event for stakeholders to learn more about the application process Monday, October 23, 2023, at 6 pm at 414 S. State Street, Suite 101, Jackson, MS. “Farmers are definitely encouraged to attend but also community members willing to take the information back to eligible landowners,” commented organizer Tony Hill. “It’s important the right information gets into the right hands.”
Guest speaker will be Dr. Willie P. Taylor, Mississippi Director of Outreach for the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program and Project Manager for ACTS (Agricultural Consultant and Technology Services, LLC).
The extension will also ensure everyone has adequate time to apply, including producers whose harvest season falls during the original application period.
The Financial Assistance Program, which was created by Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act, makes $2.2 billion available for discrimination financial assistance to farmers who can show that they experienced discrimination in USDA Farm Loan Programs.
Several organizations and community groups are offering education, outreach, and technical assistance to Black farmers throughout Mississippi and several other southern states to ensure the success of the program.
There is no minimum payment, but the maximum has been set at $500,000.
For more information, visit www.22007apply.gov. To RSVP, call 352-426-0861.
