Nationwide — A federal judge has ordered the restoration of $127 million in grants that support Black farmers and other farmers of color. The decision allows 24 organizations to continue projects that were disrupted after the U.S. Department of Agriculture canceled their funding.
The ruling followed a lawsuit filed by 24 organizations challenging the USDA’s decision to end grants from the Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access Program, according to Capital B News. The program was created to help farmers of color overcome challenges linked to land loss and limited access to farming resources.
One of the groups affected was the 2020 Farmers Cooperative, led by Sharon Mallory. The organization planned to use its grant money to purchase equipment, acquire land, and support food programs in local communities.
In March, the USDA informed the cooperative that its grant had been terminated. The agency said the awards were connected to what it called “discriminatory” diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and wasteful spending.
The funding cut disrupted plans for several organizations. Some groups had to reduce programs, shift resources, or make staffing changes because they could no longer rely on the grant money.
Mallory said the cancellation affected the relationships her organization had built with farmers and community members. The cooperative had already made agreements with farmers, but could not complete those commitments after losing the funding.
On June 30, U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell ordered the USDA to restore the $127 million in grants while the lawsuit moves forward. She also directed the agency to submit a status report to the court.
Judge Howell said the organizations showed that ending the grants could cause serious harm and that restoring the funding served the public interest. Her order temporarily blocks the grant cancellations.
Hannah Wolf, an attorney with FarmSTAND who represents the groups in the lawsuit, said the decision recognizes the importance of supporting farmers and building stronger food systems. She said the USDA must continue providing assistance to all farmers and “diminish services to certain farmers by invoking phrases like ‘illegal DEI.’”.
The restored funding will help organizations across the country, including the 2020 Farmers Cooperative, Black Oregon Land Trust, Kansas Black Farmers Association, Center for Heirs’ Property, Viva Farms, and World Farmers.
The Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access Program originally provided $300 million for 50 projects aimed at improving access to land, funding, and markets for farmers of color. The latest court order restores grants for the 24 organizations involved in the legal challenge.