National Black Farmers Rally in Dallas, Support Black Farmers Act, Stronger Agriculture Anti-trust Measures

Dallas TX – More than 500 farmers, ranchers and landowners are expected to attend the 20007 National Black Farmers Association’s national conference Thursday, February 8 – 10, 2007 in Dallas.

The two-day interactive program, hosted at Dallas’ Paul Quinn College, will focus on several issues of national importance to small farmers including:

* The Pigford Claims Remedy Act of 2006, a proposed amendment bill to 1999’s landmark $900 million civil rights discrimination settlement against the USDA; the bill would allow 72,000 black farmer late petitions to be heard on its merit;

* Anti-competitive consolidation in the agricultural seed market and the controversy including the current proposed Monsanto/Delta and Pine Lands cotton seed merger;

* The ongoing investigation into the future of the Australian Wheat Board’s monopoly export trade for allegedly paying kickbacks to Saddam Hussein as part of the U.N. oil-for-food program. American wheat farmers want the AWB’s competitive advantage permanently suspended.

“We are excited to present a platform of education, resources and networking for our nation’s Black, small and socially disadvantaged  farmers,” said Dr. John Boyd, president of NBFA, a community-based farmers’ advocacy group with more than 80,000 members.

“The issues we present should not go unnoticed and we hope to continue to educate consumers and politicians alike as we also pursue expanded economic resources and opportunities for black and minority farmers,” he said.

Some two-thirds of all U.S. farmers average $20,000 or less in annual sales profits. In its efforts to increase access to credit for those farmers and promote rural economic development, the NBFA has recently developed partnerships with several national banks and private financial institutions to establish a federal credit union.