A look at the history of discrimination claims at the Agriculture Department

A look at the history of USDA discrimination suits

The Agriculture Department has a long history of discrimination and trying to rectify past wrongs. A timeline:

— 1965. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights finds discrimination at USDA in terms of both program delivery and the treatment of employees.

— 1982, 1990. Subsequent reports find that civil rights abuses at USDA contribute to declining minority farm ownership.

— 1990. Lawsuit filed against the federal government on behalf of black farmers.

— 1997. Clinton administration holds listening sessions around the country to address longstanding complaints of discrimination and develops series of recommendations to deal with the problem.

— 1999. USDA agrees to pay farmers for past discrimination. Thousands of claims are adjudicated but many rejected and others are not submitted by the deadline.

— 2003. USDA establishes Office of Civil Rights.

— 2008. After years of complaining that many farmers were left out of the original settlement, black farmers get another chance at claims when Congress reopens the case as part of a massive farm bill.

— 2010. Obama administration settles second, final round of suit with black farmers for $1.2 billion. Farmers await funding pending congressional appropriations. Talks continue on settlement of Hispanic and women farmers’ discrimination cases. A case filed by American Indian farmers is also pending.

Sources: AP, USDA, The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund