Black Farmers Navigate Tough Times and Seek Support

Black farmers in the U. S. are facing a tough time. They grow crops like cotton, soybeans, and corn. But selling these crops is not easy. There are big problems like tariffs and high costs. This makes it hard for them to make money. James Davis is a farmer in Louisiana. He grows crops on 2, 500 acres of land. This year, he had a good harvest. But he still struggles to pay his bills. Tariffs make it hard to sell crops for a good price. This makes it difficult to survive. Farmers need help now to plan for next year. Banks look at future revenues to give loans. But the math doesn't add up. The expected income isn't enough to cover costs. The Trump administration announced a $12 billion package to help farmers. This is a one-time payment to cover losses. But this help may not come in time. Farmers have bills to pay soon. PJ Haynie is a Black farmer in Virginia and Arkansas. He says payments need to come quickly. Landlords and companies want their money by the end of the year. Black farmers face extra challenges. They make up less than 2% of all U. S. farmers. They have less land now than they did a century ago. Many say the government promised them land after the Civil War. But this promise was not kept. Black farmers also face discrimination. They struggle to get loans and support. The USDA has programs to help, but these are being cut. Farmers say this makes it even harder to survive. They need support to keep farming. All farmers face uncertain times. Global markets are unpredictable. China, a big buyer of U. S. crops, has not rebounded. Other countries like Brazil are growing more crops. This makes it harder for U. S. farmers to compete. Finis Stribling III is a farmer in Arkansas and Tennessee. He says 2025 was another bad year. Too much rain and drought hurt crops. Low prices also made it hard to cover costs. John Lee II, another farmer, worries about getting loans for next year. The $12 billion relief package helps. But it's not enough. Farmers say it's like a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. They need more support to survive and grow.