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Black Farmer Justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16, 2024
Boyd
BOYDTON, VA – Today, John W. Boyd, Jr., founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA), released the following Call to Action. Our farms and livelihoods are being threatened by the very fertilizers we have been sold for our farms. Companies such as Synagro, Denali, Lystek, Casella, Merrell Bros, Agrisludge, Griffin Residuals, Parker Ag Services, Recyc Systems, Sylvis, Walker, and others are selling us biosolids contaminated by ‘forever chemicals’ (PFAS) that are poisoning our land.
“As a Black farmer and President of the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA), I’ve witnessed firsthand the historical mistreatment of our community within the agriculture industry. Our voices have often been silenced by large agricultural companies that prioritize profits over the well-being of our communities. This time, we are determined to fight back.
My frustration is a reflection of a larger issue—one that highlights the ongoing trend of putting profits before people and the environment. The consequences of this negligence are far-reaching, affecting not only the farmers themselves but also the communities that rely on their produce and livestock. The sooner we take action to identify farms and farmers impacted by the dumping of PFA’s on our land and into our water, the better chance we have to protect the integrity of our food supply, safeguard our health, and ensure a sustainable future for the next generations of family farmers."
Join My Fight for Justice!
I am seeking out farmers who have experienced contamination to join a collective effort to hold these responsible parties accountable. By coming together, we can:
Raise Awareness: Share your story and help bring attention to this critical issue.
Seek Compensation: Work with legal experts to pursue compensation for damages.
Protect Future Generations: Advocate for stricter regulations to prevent further contamination.
Why Join Me?
The struggle for justice in agriculture is deeply personal for me and many others in our community. In this pivotal moment, I feel a sense of urgency. We must unite. The time for change is now! Together, we can challenge the systemic injustices that have plagued our industry for far too long, ensuring that Black farmers not only survive but thrive. Our fight is not just for ourselves; it’s for a more inclusive and sustainable agricultural future that benefits everyone”.
Legal Support: I am working with the outstanding attorneys at Ben Crump Law and Napoli Shkolnik. By joining you will have access to this experienced team specializing in forever chemical litigation.
Community: Connect with other affected farmers and share resources.
Advocacy: Be part of a movement pushing for change at local and national levels.
Take Action Now!
If your farm has been impacted by biosolids containing toxic ‘forever chemicals’, don’t wait. Click the link below to contact our team today to learn more about how you can get involved.
President Biden Sends Greetings to Boyd & 34th Annual National Black Farmers Conference
The 34th Annual NBFA Conference was hosted in Columbus, GA on Friday, Nov 1 and Sat, Nov 2.
Vice President Harris Acknowledges Boyd & the National Black Farmers’ Fight For Equity & Justice at 34th Annual NBFA Conference
The 34th Annual NBFA Conference was hosted in Columbus, GA on Friday, Nov 1 and Sat, Nov 2.
Conference Booklet
Register for the The 34th Annual NBFA Conference
This years conference will take place in Columbus, Georgia on November 1st & 2nd, 2024!
The Conference is FREE to ATTEND!
Register Now!
Click here to REGISTER and RECEIVE more information.
Click here to PURCHASE CONFERENCE MEAL TICKETS
Click here to PURCHASE 34th Annual NBFA AWARDS BANQUET TICKETS
National Black Farmers Association President, John Boyd, Called Today A Huge Win, Historic $2B Payout For Discrimination in Farm Lending
BOYDTON, VA, USA, /PRNewswire/ -- National Black Farmers Association
BASKERVILLE, Va., July 31, 2024/ -- The National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) has championed a major victory for African American farmers and their families in the United States. After years of protests, lawsuits, and failed bills, the organization, led by President John Boyd, has successfully secured a $2.2 billion payout for discrimination in farm lending from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This historic payout comes as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Section 22007, signed into law by President Biden nearly two years ago.
Approximately 43,000 farmers will each receive payouts of up to $500,000, with the average award being $82,000. These funds are meant to provide financial assistance to farmers who have experienced racial and other forms of discrimination from the USDA prior to 2021. This victory marks a significant step towards justice for Black farmers, who have long been fighting against systematic discrimination in the farming industry. The NBFA, founded by John Boyd 40 years ago, has been at the forefront of this fight and has led the way in advocating for change.
Boyd reflects on the long and difficult road to this victory, stating, “No matter how it is sliced, the $2.2 billion in payouts is historic. In 1999, Black farmers received a $1 billion payout. In 2013, a $1.25 billion payment was made in a late filers’ lawsuit settlement” The NBFA has also been instrumental in paving the way for similar settlements with Hispanic, Women, and Native American farmers, as well as the related Cobell case settlement.
Despite the progress made with this payout, Boyd acknowledges that there are still challenges faced by Black farmers. These include banks denying them access to operating funds and farm ownership loans, as well as recent allegations of racial discrimination by companies like John Deere. However, he sees this victory as a symbol of hope for those still fighting for justice.
Boyd’s decades-long lobbying campaign has not been without its challenges. He has faced hateful phone calls, mail, and even death threats throughout the years, but his determination to fight for the rights of Black farmers has never wavered. He emphasizes that this payout was not a blanket settlement, and that a neutral third-party administrator, Midtown Group, has carefully evaluated each farmers case. The application process was lengthy and complex, compounding the pain and frustration felt by many farmers.
As Boyd reflects on the long journey to this victory, he questions whether it was all worth it. But his answer is a resounding ‘Yes.’ He explains, “The answer is an unqualified ‘Yes’ just for the few moments today of listening to Stephen Benjamin, Senior White House Advisor and Director of Public Engagement, share the details regarding award notifications and check disbursement to DFAP applicants. “This victory is not just for the NBFA, but for all Black farmers and their families who have endured discrimination and struggled to make ends meet.”
To learn more about this historic victory and the ongoing work of the NBFA, please contact John Boyd via email JohnWesleyBoydJr@gmail.com. The National Black Farmers Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for the rights and well-being of African American farmers and their families. Through education, advocacy, and support, the NBFA fights for civil rights, land retention, access to loans, and economic development for Black farmers across the country.
CONTACT: information@prnewswire.com
Boyd Collaborates With KJ Marley To Address White Farmer Claims of Reverse Discrimination & Lawsuits Blocking $5Billion in Debt Relief
BOYDTON, Va., Nov. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- White Farmers are suing for Reverse Discrimination to prevent $5Billion in Emergency Relief for Black, Native American and other Farmers of Color. Civil rights leader John Boyd and KJ Skippa Mak Marley collaborated with Kara Brewer Boyd, Association of American Indian Farmers, to release a song "The Land" to highlight historical and ongoing broken promises, broken treaties, racial discrimination and land loss suffered by Native Americans and Black Farmers in the US.
John Boyd, Jr. & KJ “Skippa Mak” Marley performing “The Land” at the 31st Annual National Black Farmers Conference in Boydton, VA. (November 6, 2021)
NBFA Anthem: The Land by John Boyd, Jr. ft. KJ Skippa Mak Marley
"The Land" featuring John Boyd Jr. and KJ Skippa Mak Marley speaks volumes to the challenges we still face.
John Boyd, Jr., Founder and President, National Black Farmers Association, 4th generation Black Farmer in Mecklenburg County, Virginia sued the US Dept of Agriculture (USDA) and received a Fact of Finding for Racial Discrimination which led to the 1st USDA Discrimination settlement by an individual. Boyd went on to assist 10,000s of other Black and minority farmers to file discrimination complaints, lawsuits and class actions against USDA. Farming is our oldest occupation. In freedom we treasured having land to work for ourselves, our families and racial progress. "Forty acres and a mule," was an embedded aspiration.
KJ "Skippa Mak" Marley, son of Kymani Marley, is an international hip-hop artist infusing reggae and dancehall, while invoking the unmistakable musical spirit of his legendary grandfather Bob Marley to speak Truth to Power.
"I think it's shameful on behalf of white farmers who didn't reach out to me to say they have any sort of issue with this—they went straight to federal court," Boyd said.
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 program represents remedial relief for Black farmers who have had to fight USDA discrimination through the courts to get loans in the first place. "This is not 'reparations' as it's been explained by white farmers, it's not a 'windfall,' it's not a new loan program," he said.
"In 30-plus years of advocacy, I have never seen this level of racial tension in America. As I strive to encourage a new generation, time is against us. It's been white farmers the whole time who have gotten debt relief from USDA, and all of these years it was Black and other Farmers of Color who were not getting it. That's why I went through the courts and Congress to get remedial action. It finally passed under the Covid spending bill," Boyd said.
"I never heard them say it was harmful when they got debt relief," said Boyd. "It's a continuation of what Black farmers have been facing in this country, what you're seeing going on in these courts."
We want our land, we want our money, and we want reparations! Pay US Now!!!
"The Land" featuring John Boyd Jr. and KJ Skippa Mak Marley speaks volumes to the challenges we still face.
July 7, 2023
Assistance for Producers Who Experienced Discrimination in USDA Farm Loan Programs
Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides $2.2 billion in financial assistance for farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA’s farm lending programs prior to January 1, 2021.
The application process is now open! Applications for this program are free, and do NOT require a lawyer. Make sure to:
Avoid providing personal or financial information to unknown parties.
Beware of solicitations by mail, email, or phone calls from individuals claiming to be connected to USDA. USDA will not solicit you for information.
Beware of organizations seeking an application fee. If you believe there is an organization conducting a scam related to this process, please contact the USDA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) or any other appropriate authorities. The USDA OIG hotline complaint can be accessed online at https://usdaoig.oversight.gov/ hotline; OIG’s phone number is (800) 424-9121.
Visit www.22007apply.gov for detailed information about application procedures. Visit Am I Eligible? to determine if you are eligible to participate.
This is the only USDA website to submit an online application. This online resource provides information about eligibility requirements, available assistance, and application forms. Further assistance can be obtained by emailing the National Black Farmers Association at NBFA.Office@gmail.com or by calling the National Call Center at 1-800-721-0970 or emailing info@22007apply.gov.
Also, regional offices have been set up around the country so that individuals can visit, get help, and apply in-person; help will also be available at mobile events. Regional resources can be found here
Applications are due October 31, 2023. To ensure timely processing, there will be no extensions to this deadline. Applications are not on a first come, first served basis; all applications received by the deadline will be reviewed and considered. Application submission methods include:
E-Filing by 11:59 p.m. Pacific time October 31, 2023
U.S. or overnight mail must be postmarked by October 31, 2023
In person, at a regional office by 8 p.m. on October 31, 2023
Do not include original supporting documents with your submission. Your documents will not be returned to you, and may be destroyed after the Program concludes, in accordance with record management requirements. Please send a copy and keep original record for personal record keeping
May 5, 2023
BOYD WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING PRESIDENT BIDEN'S REELECTION CAMPAIGN
Biden Fails to Protect Americans From Farm Foreclosures With Moratorium Amid Calls For USDA Resignations & Congressional Oversight Of IRA Sections 22006 & 22007
President Biden, his team in the White House, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, USDA Equity Czar Dr. Dewayne Goldman and Deputy Director Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, must take personal responsibility for the debacle that has American Farmers in Farm Foreclosures. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is the President’s legacy – and the fate of thousands of Black, Native American and other farmers of color – have been left out of the relief efforts enacted by Congress to save distressed borrowers from farm foreclosure. I have repeatedly urged to no avail President Biden to honor his commitments to us and those thousands of Black, Native American and other farmers of color who are being forced into bankruptcy and foreclosures.
NBFA National Rally and Press Conference at National Mall on October 12, 2022 with Attorney Ben Crump, NBFA President John Boyd, and AAIF President Kara Boyd (Right to Left).
We will be in Purcell, McClain County, Oklahoma at a Native American Farmer foreclosure hearing on May 10, 2023!
Where will the elected officials be that repealed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Section 1005, Emergency Relief for Farmers of Color that provided 120% debt relief for this farmer and others? Those who replaced it with IRA Sections 22006. Will the USDA employees charged with advising and implementing these programs at USDA be in court to witness the consequences of their actions or lack there of?
“President Biden must move quickly to protect Black Farmers now that he has repealed promised debt relief for Black farmers provided in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 because white farmers were claiming reverse discrimination. We have days, not weeks and months, to save many Black, Native American and other farmers of color from ruin. Black farmers are facing record costs for inputs like fuel and fertilizer and soaring land costs while battling droughts and extreme heat. We cannot and will not trust a President who doesn't honor his commitments to have a sit-down meeting with me and breaks his promises during a 40-year record high cost of inputs and food crisis facing America,” stated Boyd in 2022.
Former President Bill Clinton during his administration met with Boyd to hear the concerns of Black and other minority farmers who were experiencing blatant discrimination and took prompt action which saved Boyd's farm from Foreclosure. (https://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1997/12/18/minority.farmers/)
John Westley Boyd, Sr.
The passing of John Westley Boyd, Sr., father of Black Farmers President John W. Boyd, Jr.
July 15, 1943 - November 7, 2022
Federal government taken to court for reworking Black farmers debt relief program
Black and minority farmers never benefited from the $4 billion package that was held up in court for more than a year before Congress reworked and broadened it after white farmers balked.
Biden Withdraws Support for Black Farmers.
John Boyd, Founder and President, National Black Farmers Association Releases Official Statement on President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act
August 9, 2022--For Immediate Release
Boydton, VA, - After fighting for debt relief for over 3 decades, Boyd was elated when the Emergency Relief for Farmers of Color was passed and signed into law by President Joe Biden last year in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Boyd met with Biden during the SC primaries to discuss the plight of Black Farmers and it was agreed upon that Biden would address Black Farmer issues. Again, last July (2021), Biden reaffirmed to Boyd he would have a face time meeting with him to discuss the ongoing struggles and delay of America’s Black Farmers getting the long sought-after debt relief.
What could be worse than having another President to overturn legislation you enacted to help Black and other Farmers of Color during a pandemic; repealing your own legislation to take it away while they are being served foreclosure notices in a recession with the highest record of input costs in 40 years while sending hundreds of millions in aid to Ukraine farmers.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Section 22008 repeals the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Section 1005 which provided Black, Native and other Farmers of Color debt relief.
SEC. 22008. REPEAL OF FARM LOAN ASSISTANCE.
Section 1005 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (7 U.S.C. 1921
note; Public Law 117-2) is repealed.
“I’m very, very disappointed in this legislative action,” he said in response to reading the final bill passed by the Senate. “I’m prepared to fight for debt relief for Black, Native American and other farmers of color all the way to the Supreme Court. I’m not going to stop fighting this.”
“Discrimination at USDA against Black Farmers was rampant and severe. Section 1005 Loan Repayment program was a necessary step towards fixing those harms. To acknowledge and correct racism is not unconstitutional or racist.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHAjHSstgwk
We call upon our fellow farmers, neighbors and friends to join John Boyd in his call for President Joe Biden to issue a Farm Foreclosure Moratorium to save American Farmers. The Biden Mortgage Moratorium must include foreclosure protection for USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Farm Ownership Direct and Guaranteed Loans as other Agricultural Loans while legislative remedies are being debated in Congress.
America's Farmers are worth saving!
Donate NOW to support the Association of American Indian Farmers and National Black Farmers Association. We are 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations providing advocacy, outreach and direct technical assistance to Black and other minority as well as small-scale family farmers.
For interviews, please contact John Wesley Boyd, Jr., Founder and President, National Black Farmers Association
Thu, January 27, 2022, 10:58 AM
BASKERVILLE, Va., Jan. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- John Boyd, president of the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA), today called out PepsiCo for Continued Discrimination after a year and half of ALL talk and NO contract following a verbal commitment.
Boyd Calls Out PEPSICO, ALL Talk and NO Contracts
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
PepsiCo, the giant food and beverage company, seems to value a positive public image less than profitability. Most recently it has added dismissive treatment of Black farmers to a long list of complaints about its negative environmental impacts (deforestation and pesticide use) exploitation of water resources and global plastic pollution, according to a Wikipedia report.
In addition, PepsiCo, which was created in 1965 by Pepsi's merging with the Frito-Lay brand, not only has been repeatedly criticized by environmentalists. Public health advocates have complained about its high-calorie, poor nutrition products along with other snack and drink companies. In 2019, a Johns Hopkins University student group dedicated to food sustainability and human ethics protested the campus dining office's contract with PepsiCo, calling on that unit to reject "socially and ecologically unsustainable practices of profit-hungry corporations."
Yet, the multi-billion-dollar leader in its category seems to regard social responsibility, and health standards and environmental concerns as optional values. It has vowed to uphold commitments to those issues, but has declined to release public information documenting progress on changing company practices. Although Coca-Cola, its main competitor, has bigger sales, PepsiCo within the North American market is the largest food and beverage company by net revenue ($70 Billion income reported in 2020).
NBFA raised concerns over the gargantuan company's failure to contract with members of the NBFA to provide agricultural products that form the foundation of their firm's processes. Only White farmers have been afforded the opportunity to share in PepsiCo's enormous profits. It prefers the superficial responses to public opinion such as changing the brand image of its stereotyped figure Aunt Jemima. PepsiCo immediately reached out to the NBFA on June 19th 2020 in the face of such controversy.
However, as PepsiCo indicated they wanted to do business with NBFA members, the company insisted that our growers share personal information through our national data base. A year and a half later, when NBFA growers met all the required elements for a potato delivery contract, the company's executives apparently had lost interest in keeping its part of the bargain.
In an appalling stunt, PepsiCo executives recently notified the President of the NBFA that it would not be moving forward with any contracts for NBFA members.
"PepsiCo had decided to "move in a new direction" that would not include NBFA black farmer members, we were told.
Our outrage at this kind of bullying discrimination is not just about hurt feelings. Our livelihood and financial stability is at stake when we encounter such blatantly low-level business practices. Some Black farmers have actually lost their farms amid this unethical and inhumane treatment. The NBFA is seeking legal counsel regarding PepsiCo's verbal commitment for a potato contract.
John Boyd, President and Founder, National Black Farmers Association
As a shareholder of the PepsiCo Corporation, I am calling on PepsiCo Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta to meet with NBFA leaders and respond to the hardship and realities his company's latest recent discriminatory act has caused." Boyd's statements follow PepsiCo's announcement that it will no longer use the Aunt Jemima brand, long criticized as a racial stereotype, to sell pancake mix and syrup.
For interviews, please contact John Boyd at Johnwesleyboydjr@gmail.com or at 804-691-8528.
http://blackfarmers.org
http://www.JohnBoydJr.com
View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boyd-calls-out-pepsico-for-all-talk-and-no-contracts-for-national-black-farmer-members-301469906.html
View original content: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-black-farmers-association-calls-on-pepsico-others-to-do-more-business-with-black-farmers-301080388.html
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/boyd-calls-pepsico-talk-no-155800373.html
SOURCE National Black Farmers Association
Push for Equality
GMA3: What You Need To Know
PUSH FOR EQUALITY: John Boyd, president and founder of the National Black Farmer’s Association, discusses supply chain issues, the fight for promised aid and federal relief.
Black US Farmers Awaiting Billions in Promised Debt Relief
There was a time when Black farms prospered.
Just two generations out of slavery, by 1910 Black farmers had amassed more than 16 million acres of land and made up about 14 percent of farmers. The fruit of their labors fed much of America.
Now, they have fewer than 4.7 million acres. Black farms in the U.S. plummeted from 925,000 to fewer than 36,000, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest farm census. And only about one in 100 farmers is Black.
What happened?
Emergency Relief for Farmers
To defend and assist Black Farmers and other Farmers of Color to participate and gain access to the $5 Billion Emergency Relief for Farmers of Color and other resources and federal programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture. The NBFA has retained legal counsel, filed legal briefs and will continue over 30 years of advocacy as we communicate and educate our community through effective outreach and direct technical assistance.
State of Black Farmers
Chairman David Scott hosted a hearing with National Black Farmer President John Boyd, Jr. and others on March 25, 2021 at 12 pm.
ABOUT US
The National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) is a non-profit organization representing African American farmers and their families in the United States. As an association, it serves tens of thousands of members nationwide. NBFA's education and advocacy efforts have been focused on civil rights, land retention, access to public and private loans, education and agricultural training, and rural economic development for black and other small farmers.
