USDA EXTENDS DEADLINE FOR INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) SECTION 22007 TO JANUARY 13TH, 2024; TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED DISCRIMINATION IN USDA FARM LOAN PROCESSES
Friday, September 22nd, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For Further Information, Contact:
Rural Coalition: Rel Brender, rel@ruralco.org or Lorette Picciano, lpicciano@ruralco.org
North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers Land Loss Prevention Project: Savi Horne, savi@landloss.org
Farmers Legal Action Group: Stephen Carpenter, SCarpenter@flaginc.org
Deadline Extension for the IRA Section 22007 Claims Process
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that the claims process for Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)has been extended from October 31st, 2023 to January 13th, 2024. The deadline for applicants to request documents from USDA was also extended from September 29th, 2023 to November 3rd, 2023.
IRA Section 22007 provides $2.2 billion in financial assistance for farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who have experienced discrimination in USDA’s farm lending programs prior to January 1, 2021. Because there are so many individuals, families, and communities impacted by discrimination in USDA loan processes, the extension will allow us and our sub-cooperators to support many more farmers to have strong claims.
Since the process launched in July, USDA has consistently sought and listened to input from the community partners, members, and farmers we’ve worked with. This deadline extension is a direct response to all who made their voices heard. Rural Coalition thanks our community members for urging USDA to extend the deadline, we thank USDA for listening to our community members. By now providing a 6-month window for outreach, technical assistance, and writing claims, USDA’s flexibility and collaboration will lead to a better outcome for all the farmers we serve.
“USDA knows it must earn the trust of the farmers, ranchers and forest landowners who are eligible for this program. That makes transparency in the administration of the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program crucial,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “In that spirit, after receiving feedback from organizations that have been supporting producers throughout the application process, we have made the decision to extend the deadline. We believe this is the appropriate action to take to ensure all eligible individuals wishing to apply are adequately informed about the program and have the opportunity to receive any necessary assistance.”
IRA Section 22007 Application Information:
IRA Section 22007 is not a lawsuit. According to USDA, “Farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination by USDA in its farm loan programs prior to January 1, 2021 and/or are currently debtors with assigned or assumed USDA farm loan debt that were the subject of USDA discrimination that occurred prior to January 1, 2021, are eligible for this program. To apply, borrowers have the option to apply via the e-filing portal at 22007apply.gov or submit paper-based forms via mail or in-person delivery to the program’s local offices. The application process will be open from July 7, 2023 to January 13th, 2024.”
There is no fee to apply or to receive assistance in applying.
Eight trusted community-based organizations are serving as cooperators with USDA and third party administrators to implement this long-awaited financial assistance program and to assist farmers and ranchers who have faced discrimination in prior farm loan processes. Those cooperators are:
The Federation of Southern Cooperatives Land Assistance Fund (FSC/LAF)
Rural Coalition (RC)
Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC)
North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers Land Loss Prevention Project (LLPP)
Farmers Legal Action Group (FLAG)
National Young Farmers Coalition (Young Farmers)
Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC)
National AgrAbility Project (NAP)
The following Rural Coalition Members are sub-cooperators with USDA:
Danly Point LLC
Grupo Amor de Homestead
Latino Farmers of the Southeast
American Indian Mothers, Inc.
Compañeras Campesinas
Cottage House, Inc.
Kansas Black Farmers Association
Latino Farmers and Ranchers International, Inc.
Mississippi Association of Cooperatives
Oklahoma Black Historical Research Project, Inc.
Rural Advancement Fund of the National Sharecroppers Fund
Texas Coalition of Rural Landowners
For virtual and information sessions on this program, please see USDA’s calendar of events at https://22007apply.gov/local-assistance.html#local-events.
Access our press release & USDA's press release below:
Join Rural Coalition, Land Loss Prevention Project, and Farmers Legal Action Group for
IRA 22007 Information Sessions:
Tuesday, Sept 26th, 7:00pm ET: IRA 22007 Info Session for Farmers, Ranchers, and Forest Landowners. Register here.
El jueves, 28 de septiembre, 7pm ET: IRA Sección 22007 Sesión informativa para agricultor@s, ganaderos y terratenientes forestales. Registraste aquí.
Tuesday, Oct 3rd, 7:00pm ET: IRA 22007 Info Session for Farmers, Ranchers, and Forest Landowners. Register here.
El jueves, 5 de octubre, 7pm ET: IRA Sección 22007 Sesión informativa para agricultor@s, ganaderos y terratenientes forestales. Registraste aquí.
Tuesday, Oct 10th, 7:00pm ET: IRA 22007 Info Session for Farmers, Ranchers, and Forest Landowners. Register here.
El jueves, 12 de octubre, 7pm ET: IRA Sección 22007 Sesión informativa para agricultor@s, ganaderos y terratenientes forestales. Registraste aquí.
Tuesday, Oct 17th, 7:00pm ET: IRA 22007 Info Session for Farmers, Ranchers, and Forest Landowners. Register here.
El jueves, 19 de octubre, 7pm ET: IRA Sección 22007 Sesión informativa para agricultor@s, ganaderos y terratenientes forestales. Registraste aquí.
Tuesday, Oct 24th, 7:00pm ET: IRA 22007 Info Session for Farmers, Ranchers, and Forest Landowners. Register here.
El jueves, 26 de octubre, 7pm ET: IRA Sección 22007 Sesión informativa para agricultor@s, ganaderos y terratenientes forestales. Registraste aquí.