• News
    • Research News
    • Faculty News
    • Alumni News
    • Student News
    • STEM News
  • Events
    • Spring 2018 Commencement
  • Publications
    • A&M Magazine
  • Media
    • Videos
      • Videos
      • FAMU Taught Me Series
      • Discover FAMU Series
    • Social Media
    • Student Media
    • Experts Guide
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Request Forms
    • Advertising Rate Sheet
  • FAMU.edu
  • Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Instagram
    • RSS
FAMU Forward
FAMU Forward

Tallahassee, Florida

May 20th, 2022
  • News
    • Research News
      FAMU To Host NOAA-Sponsored Science Conference

      FAMU To Host NOAA-Sponsored Science Conference

      FAMU Professor Awarded National Science Foundation Excellence in Research Grant

      FAMU Professor Awarded National Science Foundation Excellence in Research Grant

      FAMU’s Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative Announces Pensacola Community Forum

      FAMU’s Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative Announces Pensacola Community Forum

      FAMU College of Pharmacy Prints 3D Cornea Using Human Cells 

      FAMU College of Pharmacy Prints 3D Cornea Using Human Cells 

    • Faculty News
      FAMU CoPPS, IPH Receives $700K Grant to Increase Awareness and Participation of Minorities in COVID-19 Variant Clinical Research Trials

      FAMU CoPPS, IPH Receives $700K Grant to Increase Awareness and Participation of Minorities in COVID-19 Variant Clinical Research Trials

      FAMU Professor Secures $3.5M to Support Wellness of Florida’s First Responders

      FAMU Professor Secures $3.5M to Support Wellness of Florida’s First Responders

      FAMU Researchers Win NSSR Director Awards for STEM Scholars’ Success Article

      FAMU Researchers Win NSSR Director Awards for STEM Scholars’ Success Article

      FAMU’s David H. Jackson Jr. Appointed Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at NCCU

      FAMU’s David H. Jackson Jr. Appointed Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at NCCU

    • Alumni News
      FAMU Plaque Laying Ceremony Honors Rattlers in Arms Giving

      FAMU Plaque Laying Ceremony Honors Rattlers in Arms Giving

      St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, Disney Executive Sybil Crum Announced as FAMU Spring Commencement Speakers

      St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, Disney Executive Sybil Crum Announced as FAMU Spring Commencement Speakers

      FAMU Alum Daria Willis Named Next President of Howard Community (Md.) College

      FAMU Alum Daria Willis Named Next President of Howard Community (Md.) College

      FAMU Summer Grad Awarded Post-Doctoral Fellowship at USC

      FAMU Summer Grad Awarded Post-Doctoral Fellowship at USC

    • Student News
      FAMU Becomes First HBCU to Pilot Google’s Shape Co-Lab

      FAMU Becomes First HBCU to Pilot Google’s Shape Co-Lab

      FAMU Student’s Sweet Design Lands in Target Stores Nationwide

      FAMU Student’s Sweet Design Lands in Target Stores Nationwide

      Twelve FAMU Students To Participate in Goldman Sachs Market Madness Program

      Twelve FAMU Students To Participate in Goldman Sachs Market Madness Program

      Two Agribusiness Graduate Students Awarded Florida Fertilizer Agrichemical Association Scholarships for Academic Excellence

      Two Agribusiness Graduate Students Awarded Florida Fertilizer Agrichemical Association Scholarships for Academic Excellence

    • STEM News
      Keysight Technologies Extends Commitment to FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

      Keysight Technologies Extends Commitment to FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

      FAMU-FSU COE Researchers Find New Microwave Technique That Makes Fertilizer More Efficient, Environmentally Friendly

      FAMU-FSU COE Researchers Find New Microwave Technique That Makes Fertilizer More Efficient, Environmentally Friendly

      FAMU Physics Professor Awarded $350,000 National Science Foundation Grant

      FAMU Physics Professor Awarded $350,000 National Science Foundation Grant

      FAMU Chemical Engineering Student Gets Historic Doctorate, Gets Offer From Harvard

      FAMU Chemical Engineering Student Gets Historic Doctorate, Gets Offer From Harvard

  • Events
    • Spring 2018 Commencement
  • Publications
    • A&M Magazine
  • Media
    • Videos
      • Videos
      • FAMU Taught Me Series
      • Discover FAMU Series
    • Social Media
    • Student Media
    • Experts Guide
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Request Forms
    • Advertising Rate Sheet
  • FAMU.edu
  • Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Instagram
    • RSS
Home
News

FAMU Hosts USDA Event To Inform Black Farmers About American Rescue Plan Debt Relief Program

May 28th, 2021 Andrew Skerritt News
FAMU Hosts USDA Event To Inform Black Farmers About American Rescue Plan Debt Relief Program

from left: Gadsden County Commissioner Brenda Holt, USDA Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Monica Rainge, President Larry Robinson, CAFS Dean Robert Taylor and Vonda Richardson, head of the FAMU Co op Extension

Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumna and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Monica Rainge this week outlined the America Rescue Plan (ARP) that will bring debt relief to Black and other socially disadvantaged farmers.

At the event held at the FAMU Research & Extension Center in Quincy Wednesday, Congressman Al Lawson, state, county and local elected officials and College of Agriculture and Food Sciences faculty and staff joined dozens of Black farmers eager to learn about the Biden administration’s plan to erase billions in debt for struggling farmers of color. 

Several dozen farmers joined FAMU CAFS staff and elected officials at the event to provide information about the America Rescue Plan debt relief program.

Across America, there are 16,000 eligible borrowers who owe  $3.9 billion, Rainge said. This week, eligible borrowers should begin receiving letters from their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) officials saying how much they owe. Once farmers agree with the information, they should sign the form and return it. 

“We have every intent to get this money out to you as soon as possible,” Rainge said. “The first checks will be cut in June. We are committed to paying out all checks in an expeditious manner.”

The USDA plans to pay up to 120 percent of the outstanding loans, which will include the full cost of the loan and an extra 20 percent to assist farmers in paying the tax liability and any fees associated with the payoff of their loan.

“In previous Class Action settlements, you received some type of settlement, but there was still a tax liability that farmers could not pay and they ended up losing their farms as a result of the failure to pay those taxes,” Rainge told the gathering. “We thank God that Senator (Raphael) Warnock and others envisioned this debt plan, they thought about how they could also include financial assistance on the back end of this. So there’s the debt relief, which means essentially the USDA is going to pay off 100 percent of your loans and you will also receive a direct payment of 20 percent of your loan amount to pay off expenses related to the debt clearance now.”

Socially disadvantaged farmers include African American, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Hispanic Asian American or Pacific Islander producers. In order to be eligible, farmers must have an outstanding qualified loan as of January 1,  2021. Borrowers in default or in collection are eligible to have their debt covered. Direct FSA and FSA guaranteed loans are eligible for repayment. However, rural development and marketing assistance loans, and loans from commercial lenders that are not FSA guaranteed lenders are ineligible.

Rainge also warns socially disadvantaged producers that the USDA is not charging any fees so they should be aware of companies offering to help them for a fee. 

“They are not with the USDA,” Rainge said. “There is no fee for you to sign up to be a part of this program. The only step you need to take is to contact your FSA office; our FSA staff is there to assist you.” 

The USDA is also partnering with community-based organizations and  universities such as FAMU to ensure that they have the outreach and technical assistance to provide borrowers assistance with financial, legal and tax planning services.

“At FAMU, our foundational mission is attached to the plight of the Black farmer and we are pleased to be part of the project to help rescue them. America’s wealth, especially here in the South, is rooted in Black farm labor,” said President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. 

“FAMU, one of 19, 1890 Land Grant universities, also stands ready to assist farmers in their quest, not just for survival, but for economic viability and to ensure that future generations of African Americans will see farming as an honorable and profitable way to make a living,” Robinson continued. 

In America, the number of Black farmers has consistently declined from nearly 1 million in 1920 to fewer than 50,000 today. A century ago, 13,000 Black farmers operated across Florida compared to just 2,000 today. That is an 85 percent decrease in Black participation in the industry of food, science, national security, said Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried.

“Facts show, it has been harder for farmers of color to acquire land, to get access to funding and loans, to get farms off the ground and was made harder by federal agencies,” Fried said. “The American Rescue Plan is about helping. Paying off the loans of socially disadvantaged farmers helps everyone and hurts no one. It is morally right,” Fried continued. “To those who say this hurts banks. I say, people need to come before profits.”

For more information, call FAMU Co-op Extension at 850-599-3546 or email extension@famu.edu. 

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest
Previous article FAMU Rattler Boosters Hold Virtual Spring Fundraiser
Next article FAMU Bragg Stadium Testing Site Gets New Vendor, Open Memorial Day
Related Posts
FAMU Becomes First HBCU to Pilot Google’s Shape Co-Lab

FAMU Becomes First HBCU to Pilot Google’s Shape Co-Lab

May 18th, 2022
FAMU Public Health Professor Named 2022-2023 Fulbright Scholar

FAMU Public Health Professor Named 2022-2023 Fulbright Scholar

May 17th, 2022
FAMU Names Gloria Walker New CFO/VP for Finance & Administration 

FAMU Names Gloria Walker New CFO/VP for Finance & Administration 

May 12th, 2022
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by the FAMU Office of Communications.


Timeline
May 18th 10:13 AM
Students

FAMU Becomes First HBCU to Pilot Google’s Shape Co-Lab

May 17th 3:31 PM
News

FAMU Public Health Professor Named 2022-2023 Fulbright Scholar

May 12th 3:37 PM
News

FAMU Names Gloria Walker New CFO/VP for Finance & Administration 

May 11th 3:23 PM
News

FAMU College of Law Judges Gallery Celebrates Alumni on the Bench

May 10th 9:59 PM
News

Portion of FAMU’s Wahnish Way Closed Until Week of May 23

Follow Us!
Tweets by @FAMU_1887
RSS FAMU Sports News
  • Head Coach Willie Simmons Announces New Additions to Football Staff
  • SWAC Champs Qualify for NCAA East Prelims
  • Florida A&M Football Joins Youth in Academy Sports + Outdoors Shopping Spree
  • Rattlers prepare for final regular season series against Bethune-Cookman
  • Rattlers go winless in series versus Jackson State
A&M Magazine Digital Stories
FAMU Videos

💉 #CallTheShots with FAMU's Basketball Team 🏀

👨🏾‍🎓 Congratulations to the Spring 2022 Graduates 👩🏿‍🎓

Upcoming Events
Jul
8
Fri
all-day IRENE C. EDMONDS YOUTH THEATRE P... @ Charles Winter Wood Theatre-Edmonds Stage
IRENE C. EDMONDS YOUTH THEATRE P... @ Charles Winter Wood Theatre-Edmonds Stage
Jul 8 – Jul 9 all-day
IRENE C. EDMONDS YOUTH THEATRE PRODUCTION @ Charles Winter Wood Theatre-Edmonds Stage
IRENE C. EDMONDS YOUTH THEATRE PRODUCTION   July 8 – 9, 2022 Charles Winter Wood Theatre | Edmonds Stage Share a delightful evening applauding the achievements of a group of talented young performers, culminating a[...]
View Calendar
Add
  • Add to Timely Calendar
  • Add to Google
  • Add to Outlook
  • Add to Apple Calendar
  • Add to other calendar
  • Export to XML
Calendar
May 2021
S M T W T F S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
« Apr   Jun »
Archives
Subscribe to Our Newsletter!

Enter your email address to subscribe to our news site and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow Us!
Got a Story?

We love hearing from our alumni.  Let us know what you’ve been up to since you left the hill! Contact us here today!

© Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University 2019. All rights reserved.
Powered by the FAMU Office of Communications