Black Farmers Discrimination Case Nears Claim Filing Deadline
The Tougaloo College, LEADS Program in conjunction with the Mississippi Family Farmers Inc. and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives held a workshop on Friday, February 10, 2012, at the Good Samaritan Ecumenical Church in Tchula, Mississippi to empower stakeholders to file claims for the black farmer’s class-action discrimination lawsuit also known as "Pigford II." The final $1.25 billion settlement was approved on October, 27, 2011, by Judge Paul L. Friedman. The court order provides that the claim submission period will begin on November 14, 2011, and end on May 12, 2012.
The United States District Court in the District of Columbia reached a settlement with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to pay cash and provide farm loan forgiveness to African American farmers and ranchers who experienced loan discrimination by the USDA between 1981 and 1996 and who filed a request to participate in the original Pigford case but missed the original claims deadline. Heirs of people who fit this description may also file claims on behalf of the deceased.
More here
Mississippi Becomes Onion Producing State as Mileston Cooperative Association Signs on as Onion Producer
The Mileston community in Holmes County has the historical significance of being a New Deal Community created by the Roosevelt Administration during the Great Depression era. Roosevelt’s Resettlement Administration purchased land from wealthy landowners to facilitate communal settlements with poor people. With hard work, technical guidance, and financial assistance in the form of low-interest loans, Black sharecroppers eventually purchased land from the government. The Mileston community made considerable strides in the agricultural arena with the incorporation of a farmers’ cooperative in 1944. The Mileston Cooperative Association is the only farm cooperative in Holmes County and Tougaloo College has placed considerable emphasis on strengthening this 67 year old landmark organization.
More here
LEADS Partners with the Alliance for Sustainable Agricultural Production to Help Holmes County Farmers Join the Organic Movement
The Organic Trade Association’s 2011 Organic Industry Survey shows that organic sales have increased over the past 20 years from a $1 billion industry to a $26.7 billion industry. Although the growth rate appears to be staggering, organics constitute approximately four percent of all food sales. Despite national growth, Mississippi certified its first five organic farmers in 2005. Slow growth of the industry in Mississippi is attributed to the labor intensive nature of organic farming and disease and insect problems and the lack of organic matter in the soil. On the average, it takes three years to certify a farm as organic, and as of January 2012, the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce no longer certifies organic growers. Many produce buyers and food handlers require growers to use third party certifying organizations which may cost more than $90 per hour for auditor’s time. Certification and labor cost are generally offset by higher crop value.
More here |
