Welcome! You have found the official home of the Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association based in Tillery, North Carolina. Please take the time to look around and drop us a note. Click here to visit President Gary Grant's blog on matters of black land loss and racial injustice. We are committed to securing justice for small farmers and combating environmental injustice facing rural people around the world. Yours for peace. -- Gary R. Grant.
Latest News
Dr. Joe Leonard, Assistant Secretary of Civil Rights at the USDA to Visit Tillery
BFAA President Gary Grant urges members and community members to participate in town hall meeting with Assistant Secretary of Civil Rights at the USDA, Dr. Joe Leonard. Click the image to the left to read Gary's letter.
Secretary of Agriculture, Vilsack Calls for New Civil Rights Era at USDA
Recent News
Read about the hopeful promise of the new Secretary of Agriculture
Obama Approves $1.25 Billion for Black Farmers
While this AP article is promising, the question still remains as to how many black farmers and land owners have been destroyed by the USDA and its agents. Further, how much REAL WEALTH has been taken from our community by the racist and discriminatory acts of FSA officers across the country. Also, can someone tell me what happened to the rest of the $2.4 billion that was allotted in the settlement? Seems thus far, we have only received right at about $900 million. Let us not forget history for if we do, it will repeat itself. -- GRG
Harry Young Fighting for His Land
82-year old Harry Young from Owensboro, KY is in a battle to save his land. Check out his webpage and consider making a donation to his legal defense fund. Keep fighting Harry!
Executive Director of Federation Impressed with New USDA Administration
Read about Ralph Paige's impressions of Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack and Assistant Secretary of Civil Rights, Joe Leonard.
11th National Land Loss Summit
Feb 20-21, 2009 - 11th National Black Land Loss Summit "A Vision for the Future", Tillery and Franklinton Center Please plan to attend this historic summit as we meet to chart our course in this post-Pigford era. Click here for the complete agenda.
July 24, 2008 - Re-opening of the Pigford Case. So, wondering if you qualify? Read this note below.
Congress finally passed the 2007 Farm Bill in 2008. One component to it is an amendment that will allow more than 60 thousand LATE CLAIMS to the now historic PIGFORD VS USDA CLASS ACTION. However, many people are under the impression that the law suit has been reopened. BFAA makes it very clear that the law suit is not re-opened for new claims. Hopefully people are not being taken in by those who would mislead them.
From what we here at BFAA understand, here is how the new legislation works:
You must have a letter from the Arbitrator saying that you were denied because your claim was late. If you have lost your letter, then the Monitor’s Office (1-877-924-7483) will have a Tracking Number for you. The Monitor’s Office is open Monday - Friday. Even if you cannot find your letter, if you truly have a late claim, your name will be there.
Then you will need to get an attorney. What congress has done only allows for you to see if you qualify as a Pigford Claimant. You will still need to prove that you or your relative was discriminated against.
If you need an attorney, we can suggest that you contact the Land Loss Prevention Project (LLPP) in North Carolina at 1-800-672-5839 or you contact Chestnut and Sanders at 1-866-492-6200 or 334-975-9264 in Alabama.
If you have further questions, please feel free to contact the BFAA office at 252-826-2800.
Hopefully everyone is aware that BFAA is a volunteer organization and any contributions are gladly accepted in order that we might be able to keep the organization going. There is no paid staff.
Beware Attorneys Requesting Money to Join Pigford Case
June 3, 2008 - CAUTION - Beware of attorneys requesting money for you to join the re-opening of the Pigford Case. Here is a letter from BFAA President Gary Grant with useful information. Dear Pigford Claimant:
FINALLY A DECISION!!!! Congress has passed a bill that will allow those who filed late for the Pigford Class Action, Black farmers law suit, to seek damages. One drawback to this congressional action is that there is a $100 million cap to pay the more than 60,000 claims. BFAA is working with Attorney Rose Sanders to have the cap lifted, but cannot promise anything. At any rate, if you have a claim in, have a denial letter and a tracking number, you will be allowed to file a lawsuit or participate in a class action lawsuit to pursue your claim. You will need good legal council, and BFAA can with good conscience recommend the firm of CHESTNUT, SANDERS, SANDERS, PETTAWAY & CAMPBELL, L.L.C as one such firm. You can reach this firm at 1-866-492-6200 (toll free).
In the past Pigford case, attorney fees were paid by the government. But the new legislation does not a re-open the old Pigford case. Therefore, all of the terms are not clear, but it looks as if the claimant will have to pay attorney fees.
If you are looking for a lawyer and or legal firm to represent you in this matter, please call Rose Sanders at your earliest convenience. Sanders has assured BFAA that if attorney fees must be paid by the claimant their Firm's will be reasonable.
For the past ten years, this firm has served thousands of farmers honestly and respectfully.
If you have any concerns or questions, please contact the BFAA office at
252-826-2800 or call the law firm at 1-866-492-6200.
Yours for the Survival of Black Farmers,
Gary R. Grant, President
About Us
Welcome to BFAA-US.ORG, the online home for the Black Farmers & Agriculturalists Association. Please view our site and get valuable info on what's happening to one of America's most precious resources, THE BLACK FARMER.
BFAA (Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association) is a non-profit organization created to respond to the issues and concerns of Black farmers in the U.S. and abroad. Formed in 1997, the organization boasts a membership of over 1,500 farmers nationwide, and 21 state chapters.
BFAA was also organized to monitor the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the historic 1999 Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Pigford v. Glickman, which was to award 20,000 Black farmers $2.5 billion in damages for loan discrimination practiced committed by the federal government. As of May 2002, only 40% of the 60% of farmers who have filed have received their awards. BFAA is committed to seeing that every Black farmer gets their award settlement and the USDA stops its continuing practices of discrimination against Black farmers.
We invite you to share in our organization's vision to inform, enlighten, and educate the world about the past, present, and future of African-American farmers...
NOTE: THIS ORGANIZATION IS NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE GROUP OUT OF COVINGTON, TN.