American Farmland Trust Supports Debt Relief for BIPOC Farmers and Ranchers

This statement can be attributed to Tim Fink, American Farmland Trust’s policy director 

American Farmland Trust applauded the inclusion of debt relief for producers that are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) as part of the American Rescue Plan Act when the legislation passed in March 2021. USDA’s history of discrimination is well documented, and the inclusion of loan forgiveness marks a key step in addressing a historic wrong. As such, we encourage USDA to strongly defend this policy in the wake of legal challenges and continue preparations for its implementation.