Funding for a program that would have helped underserved farmers in Mississippi and other states has been cut by the Trump administration.

The Black Belt Land Access Program in Jackson was one of 50 projects designed to increase land access for underserved landowners and producers. The program, called Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access, launched in 2023 under the Biden administration.

Amanda Koehler, who started an information network for awardees, said its cancellation hurts the next generation of farmers and ranchers.

"I know so many people who have farm dreams and are basically begging to be able to farm," she said, "and we're not doing nearly enough to address it."

The USDA called the funding "woke" DEI propaganda and government waste. The Black Belt Land Access program was targeted to help BIPOC farmers in Mississippi, east Texas and Arkansas.

The U.S. farming population is aging rapidly, but without federal assistance, most younger farmers can't afford the high startup costs. Koehler said large-scale, productive farms can easily require an investment of $2 million, not including a home or necessary equipment. She said she believes the United States is running out of time to address these issues in a meaningful way.

"The number one reason young farmers are leaving agriculture is because of land-access issues," she said, "so the termination of this program is incredibly shortsighted, especially because there has not been an alternative proposed."

Koehler noted that the $300 million program was small, considering that all proposed projects topped $2.5 billion.

In addition to her advocacy work, Koehler is an urban farmer in St. Paul, Minnesota, raising eggs, fruits, vegetables and herbs for her family and neighbors.

Source: Public News Service