“There is a direct connection between discriminatory policies within the USDA and the enormous land loss we have seen among Black farmers over the past century."
Booker’s claim is supported by findings in USDA reports, legal settlements between the department and Black farmers and expert opinion. In 1920, there were about 925,700 Black farmers. In 2017, that number was down to 45,500. Bias in the implementation of New Deal policies and other farm assistance programs meant Black farmers were continually denied opportunities to expand and modernize their farms.