On July 7, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the start of the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (22007) as a part of the Inflation Reduction Act. Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) directs USDA to provide financial assistance for farmers, ranchers, or forest landowners determined to have experienced discrimination in USDA’s farm lending programs prior to January 1, 2021. Farmer Veteran Coalition, along with 7 other cooperators, serves as liaison to connect our members to resources designed to help them understand the program and to aid in applying.
APPLICATION PROCESS
The application process is now open, until October 31, 2023. Those interested can apply and submit their applications online or through paper-based forms via mail or in-person delivery to the program’s local offices. Applications will be reviewed in November and December, with payments being sent to recipients in early January 2024. For more information, please visit our webpage here: https://farmvetco.org/dfap-22007/ where you can find resources on where to apply as well as contact information for additional assistance.
WEBINAR AND PODCAST
Farmer Veteran Coalition is working hard to ensure that our members are well informed about this program and get the help they need to get through the application process. Our very own Jeanette Lombardo, Executive Director at FVC, featured in an episode on Vets in Ag Podcast, hosted by Michael DeSa. Jeanette and fellow guest Monica Rainge, Deputy Assistance Secretary for Civil Rights at the USDA, go into detail about the program and the application process.
You can listen to the podcast here: CLICK HERE
FVC also hosted a webinar last week on July 14 over the program. The webinar featured guests Stephen Carpenter, Deputy Director and Senior Staff Attorney at Farmers Legal Action Group (FLAG), George Haney III and Myles Caggins, both of Windsor Group LLC. During the webinar, we discussed the program, talked about the application process, and answered questions throughout the session. You can watch a recording of the webinar on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@farmvetcoalition/videos
FILL OUT THE APPLICATION FOR FREE
Filing this application is FREE. You do not need a lawyer to apply, and the program staff can provide help FREE of charge. Be wary of any communication through mail, email, or phone soliciting information from you or requesting information. Again, a lawyer is not required to apply for this program, however, if you do feel the need for legal assistance, seek the assistance of a trusted, licensed attorney.
For additional information on the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (22007), please visit our website here: https://farmvetco.org/dfap-22007/ You can also email us at support@farmvetco.org or call us at 855-FVC-FARM (855-382-3276) and we can provide you with more information on this program.
