After a decades-long fight for Black farmers to receive financial assistance for their farms, the rain made grain this week.

A $2.2 billion payout was awarded to Black farmers who applied for the restitution disbursement back in 2021 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture last Wednesday.

Nearly 45,000 farmers around the country – with most payouts heading toward Mississippi and Alabama – will receive payouts up to $500,000, with the average award being $82,000. This payout provides farmers financial assistance after years of racial discrimination, protests, lawsuits and failed legislation.

Fourth-generation farmer and National Association of Black Farmers founder, John Boyd, said the large payout was a “huge victory” for the organization and himself.

“It’s a huge victory for the National Association of Black Farmers, even a bigger victory for me as somebody who’s been trying to get this stuff done for 41 years,” he said.

The NBFA was founded over 40 years ago to educate and advocate for Black farmers in fighting for civil rights, land retention, accessibility to farm loans and economic development.

Boyd got the news of the payout last week from a phone call with Stephen Benjamin, the Biden administration’s director of the office of public engagement.

Boyd, who is no stranger to Congress, has made numerous impromptu protests to federal lawmakers along with other farmers who faced loan denial by the USDA. He made headlines back in 2002 when he and other farmers marched to Capitol Hill with a mule-driven covered wagon to draw attention to the discrimination against African American farmers. 

During the 1980s, loan officers from the USDA denied his own application for a farm loan.

“I’ve been spat on, I’ve been called a ‘n—’ from the very person who was supposed to provide me loans and who should’ve been treating me with dignity and respect,” Boyd said.

Boyd emphasized the importance of Black farmers in the agricultural industry and the generational legacy of farmers.

“You came from somebody’s farm, you’re only two or three generations away. We weren’t out here being doctors and lawyers … Farmers were trained by their forefathers. It’s an art and a skillset and we need farmers,” he said. "We may need doctors and lawyers today, but we’re going to need to eat some food.”

Third-generation farmer John Bonner of Dinwiddie is one of the farmers who received a payment. A check for $390,000 was delivered last weekend, he says, His story is similar to Boyd’s and other Black farmers who encountered discrimination by being denied farm loans throughout the years.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Bonner said of receiving the check in the mail.

The 78-year-old farmer said he plans to use the newfound funds to invest in his farm and support his family.

“My granddaughter, she just graduated from high school, and she was interested in being a veterinarian,” he said. “I want to do some things to help somebody else. I wouldn’t get to where I am if it wasn’t for my daddy and what he taught me and all.”

Boyd’s efforts appear to have produced more positive results this week. On Thursday, the USDA announced changes to its loan programs that are “intended to increase opportunities for farmers and ranchers to be financially viable.” The new policy creates a set-aside program with reduced interest rates, provides flexible payment terms and reduces loan security requirements, so fewer farmers will have to use their personal property as collateral.

“USDA encourages producers to reach out to their local FSA farm loan staff to ensure they fully understand the wide range of loan and servicing options available to assist with starting, expanding, or maintaining their agricultural operation,” according to a press release from the department.

Boyd reflects on leading the fight, one that he plans to continue.

“I’ll spend the rest of my life fighting trying to help our people, trying to get some justice,” he said. “When we look at the history of Black farmers, it’s amazing that we’re still here.”