Texas Farmers Sue USDA for Alleged Discrimination

Apr 30, 2024

By tiffany.dowell

A group of Texas farmers recently filed suit against the United States Department of Agriculture claiming that the USDA improperly discriminated against them in administering various disaster and pandemic relief programs. Plaintiffs in Strickland v. USDA challenge the USDA’s disparate treatment for certain producers based upon race and sex. The Plaintiffs assert that the USDA violated both the Equal Protection Clause of the US Constitution and the Administrative Procedures Act.

The Plaintiffs note that over the past four years, Congress appropriated $13.7 billion to USDA to implement crop and livestock disaster assistance and nearly $11.2 billion to implement disaster assistance programs for corona virus-related relief. The USDA took these appropriated funds and implemented a number of programs to aid farmers and ranchers who lost income, crops, or livestock due to natural disasters or the pandemic.

Specifically, the Plaintiffs’ Complaint addresses the following eight programs: ERP 2021 Phases 1 and 2, ERP 2022 Track 1, ELRP 2021 Phases 1 and 2, ELRP 2022, CFAP 2 Bonus, and PARP.

The Plaintiffs are Texas farmers located in the Lubbock, Sudan, and Wellington areas who produce a variety of crops including cotton, peanuts, wheat, grain sorghum, sorghum silage, black eyed peas, hay, and cattle.

Specifically, the Plaintiffs’ Complaint addresses the following eight programs: ERP 2021 Phases 1 and 2, ERP 2022 Track 1, ELRP 2021 Phases 1 and 2, ELRP 2022, CFAP 2 Bonus, and PARP.

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Video: Agriculture Secretary Rollins Speaks at American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Anaheim

One of the highlights at the 2026 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Anaheim, California, was an address by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. During her remarks, she thanked America’s farmers and ranchers and said the Trump Administration is fully aware that food security is national security.

She also acknowledged the challenging times in Farm Country with low commodity prices and high input costs and said that’s why the President stepped in to help with the recent Bridge Assistance Program.

Montana Farm Bureau Federation Executive Vice President Scott Kulbeck says that Farm Bureau members are appreciative of the help and looks forward to working with the American Farm Bureau Federation and its presence in Washington, DC to keep farmers and ranchers in business.

Secretary Rollins said the Trump Administration is also committed to helping ranchers build back America’s cattle herd while also providing more high-quality U.S. beef at the meat case for consumers.

And she also announced more assistance for specialty crop producers who only received a fraction of the $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA).

It’s important to note that producers who qualify for Farmer Bridge Assistance can expect the Farm Service Agency to start issuing payments in late February. For more information, farmers and ranchers are encouraged to contact their local USDA Service Center.