Billings, Montana, August 2, 2024—The Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC) welcomes the Biden-Harris Administration’s announcement on July 31 regarding payments under the Inflation Reduction Act’s Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP). Under Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the USDA provided $2 billion in financial assistance to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who reported discrimination in USDA farm lending before January 2021. In a press release about the DFAP payments, President Joe Biden and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack expressed a commitment to justice and support for agricultural producers across the nation, acknowledging the importance of this program in promoting fairness within USDA’s operations.
Quick Facts About DFAP Awards
Over 43,000 individuals receive financial assistance through the program via two categories of awards:
Category 1: Over 23,000 individuals who have or had a farming or ranching operation are receiving between $10,000 and $500,000 of assistance, with an average of nearly $82,000
Category 2: Over 20,000 individuals who planned to have a farming or ranching operation but reported they were unable to do so because they couldn’t get a USDA loan. These individuals are receiving between $3,500 and $6,000 of assistance, with an average of $5000
Awards are being mailed directly to applicants if applicants explicitly directed the award to law firms representing them.
Tax Implications
Federal Benefits Implications
Helpful Links
DFAP applications were accepted from July 7, 2023, to January 17, 2024, with approximately 58,000 applications received. All decisions and awards were made as of July 30, 2024. More than 43,000 individuals will receive their decisions via mail (based on the mailing address provided on their DFAP application). Individuals who applied using the online portal may also log in to check their application status. If you applied and don’t receive an award or denial by August 6, 2024 call the DFAP Hotline at 1-800-721-0970.
While the DFAP program acknowledges and addresses discrimination in USDA farm lending programs, it also underscores the importance and need for continued advocacy to address the challenges unique to Indian Country. The 574 federally recognized Tribes—representing 68.5 million acres of Tribal trust and restricted fee lands—and nearly 80,000 individual Tribal producers often encounter distinct barriers not addressed by existing USDA policies. These Tribes, with their unique lands, languages, cultures, and histories, are not easily accommodated by state and county-based programs, which often overlook Tribal sovereignty and autonomy, highlighting the crucial role of IAC in advocating for policies that recognize and address the specific needs and rights of Tribal communities.
IAC remains committed to educating and informing about these realities in Indian Country. We will continue to work diligently to ensure that USDA’s policies and outreach reflect the diverse needs and challenges of Tribal communities. Our goal is to foster better partnerships and develop more inclusive approaches that recognize the sovereignty and unique circumstances of Tribal lands and producers.
We applaud the steps taken by the Biden-Harris Administration and want to emphasize the need for ongoing efforts to improve access and support for Indian Country. The IAC is dedicated to advocating for meaningful changes and ensuring that Tribal producers can fully benefit from USDA programs without disproportionate hurdles.
For the full press release, please visit the USDA website.
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