Farmers from North Dakota and Minnesota have recently joined a discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The lawsuit alleges a USDA COVID 19 relief program for socially disadvantaged farmers discriminates based on race. North Dakota Farm Bureau President Daryl (lees) Lies says his group advocates farmers get their income from the market rather than the federal government but if they participate in those programs they need to be fair.
The attorney representing the North Dakota farmers claims the federal government has two options, either amend the program to allow aid to all farmers or disband it entirely. Lies says it makes more sense to eliminate the program.
He says farmers and ranchers are engaged in business and need to live with the risks that brings.
The funds from the COVID 19 program in question are on hold due to court injunctions. And Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack defends the program as addressing long standing racial equity issues within USDA and across agriculture.
