Latest news with #NationalBlackFarmersAssociation
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
National Black Farmers Association Condemn Proposal to Repeal Duty Drawback
"The Big, Beautiful Bill" Must Protect American Farmers, Protect Duty Drawback WASHINGTON, June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Representing 130,000 members, the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) is calling on the U.S. Senate to protect all farmers, especially those who grow American tobacco, by removing the provision to repeal the duty drawback incentive for U.S. tobacco manufacturers from the budget reconciliation bill. "What logic suggests that 'making America great again' is achieved on the backs of American farmers? Growers in North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, and across our nation will be jeopardized if the duty drawback incentive does not remain in place," said 4th-generation black farmer John Boyd, Jr., founder and president of the NBFA. "To some, the incentive may seem minor. However, to my members and growers across America, protecting the duty drawback is of great significance. On behalf of the National Black Farmers Association, I humbly plead that legislators do not jeopardize the current American agricultural economy nor the future generations of American farmers." Without the support of duty drawback, the outlook for U.S. tobacco exports becomes increasingly grim. Additionally, domestic tobacco consumption has steadily declined over the past decade, adversely affecting American tobacco farmers. Kimberly Foley, Executive Director of Tobacco Associates, recently wrote to Members of Congress: "Export growth is not just our future, it's our present. Duty drawback plays a quiet but essential role in keeping U.S. leaf attractive on the international stage." Duty drawbacks are not loopholes—they are essential safeguards. Removing them would reverse over 200 years of trade policy designed to support American exports and bolster domestic manufacturing. Drawbacks stimulate domestic manufacturing in the states and ensure that U.S. leaf tobacco remains competitive in the international marketplace. If legislators remove the drawback incentive, this would lead to a decrease in US-grown tobacco crops. "The announcement of this proposed repeal was yet another blow to our industry. American farmers are already in a state of emergency due to tariffs and cuts from USAID. Tobacco has historically been a vital "cash crop," providing the financial means for farmers to cultivate other crops, such as sweet potatoes and peanuts, and helping farm families sustain their livelihoods. Keeping the duty drawback incentive in place protects American tobacco growers and fulfills the Administration's promise to support, rather than punish, farmers," President Boyd emphasized. The current House version of the legislation removes the Duty Drawback provision specifically for tobacco companies while preserving it for all other industries. Eliminating this incentive for American tobacco manufacturers would severely impact the farming of American tobacco crops. About The National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) is a nonprofit organization representing African American farmers and their families in the United States. As an association, it serves tens of thousands of members across the nation. The NBFA's education and advocacy efforts have been focused on civil rights, land retention, access to public and private loans, education, and agricultural training, as well as rural economic development for Black and other small farmers. For additional information, visit MEDIA CONTACT: Ayona Anderson 469-834-9500 396161@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE National Black Farmers Association Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Black US farmers brace for impact amid tariffs turmoil
By Kat Stafford, Kia Johnson, Jayla Whitfield-Anderson BOYDTON, Virginia (Reuters) -As a fourth generation farmer, Virginia resident John Boyd Jr typically spends the busy spring season prepping his land to plant sweet corn seeds and soybeans. But Boyd, the president and founder of the National Black Farmers Association, has also been busy fielding inquiries from Black farmers anxious about the impact of President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs. 'The farmers are calling and saying,'Hey, Boyd, should I plant my crop, man? This ain't looking good for us. Have you heard anything from anybody where we can get some emergency loans?' Boyd recounted in an interview, as he worked on his farm. 'And it's frustrating because the answer is no. We don't have the resources to help them.' In several interviews, agricultural sociologists, public health and government and governance experts and advocates said the impact of Trump's tariffs could be more acute for Black farmers, given their historical challenges in accessing capital, retaining ownership of their land and the enduring legacy of decades of discrimination and racism. Groups representing U.S. farmers and food processors have been mostly critical of Trump's tariffs on imports, which analysts say will hike prices for consumers. The American Farm Bureau Federation, the leading farm lobby, said the tariffs threaten farmers' competitiveness and could cause long-term damage. 'Everything about trade and tariffs over the past few months has just been so erratic that it is tough for businesses, for farmers, for analysts to know what's gonna happen, not only in the long term, but even from day to day or even hour to hour,' said Bill Winters, a Georgia Tech University sociology professor. Black farmers today account for less than 2% of all U.S. farmers, a share that has significantly dropped over the past century, according to a 2024 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service. In 1920, 41.4 million acres were operated by Black farmers. By contrast, a USDA Census of Agriculture data report found Black producers operated 32,700 farms and ranches, covering about 5.3 million acres in 2022. In a March 2021 website post affirming the agency's commitment to civil rights, former USDA secretary Tom Vilsack said the government needed to acknowledge the "USDA's history of systemic discrimination via policies and programs designed to benefit those with access, education, assets, privilege rather than for those without." He pledged to root out systemic racism and barriers experienced by Black farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, and poor areas in rural America. The post appears to have since been removed from the USDA's site. Since returning to the White House, Trump has spent the past 100 days aggressively dismantling diversity -- and civil rights -- initiatives across the federal government. 'We spend most of our time just trying to survive on what's thrown at us,' Boyd said, noting that unequal access has existed regardless of who occupies the Oval Office. But he said farmers are concerned about the ripple effects of dismantling programs aimed at remedying discrimination. 'ACTION TO SUPPORT FARMERS' Farming accounts for more than a third of U.S. land. While the number of farms is dwindling and their average size growing, family-owned and operated farms still account for the vast majority of land farmed, according to USDA. A USDA spokesperson said that over the last four years, the Biden administration left the USDA "in complete disarray and dysfunction." "President Trump is taking strong action to support farmers by quickly rolling out programs like the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program that provides $10 Billion in direct assistance to producers," the USDA said in a statement. "USDA does not discriminate and single out individual farmers based on race, gender, or political orientation." The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act signed by former president Joe Biden in 2021, in part set aside billions in debt relief to help socially disadvantaged farmers -- and to address the USDA's history of discrimination. But, the program was repealed following lawsuits filed by white farmers. A subsequent race-neutral program was passed through the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. 'With tariffs right now, from a Black farmer's perspective, it really doesn't affect us because we have been shut out for 100 years,' said Corey Lea, a Tennessee farmer and advocate. Keon Gilbert, a Brookings Institution governance studies fellow and Saint Louis University public health professor, said Black farmers fear they won't receive payments awarded as part of the legislation. The tariffs, he said, could compound an already fragile situation. 'What could possibly happen is we may see a continued decline in Black farms. Many of those farmers have smaller properties, smaller land, and that may all just go away," Gilbert said. Meanwhile, Boyd will continue to fight to preserve his family's multi-generational farming legacy. "By the grace of God, I'm going to plant my crops," Boyd said.
Reuters
30-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Black US farmers brace for impact amid tariffs turmoil
Summary Black farmers face historical challenges in accessing capital and land ownership Trump's tariffs criticized by farm groups, threaten farmers' competitiveness Race-neutral program passed after lawsuits against Biden's debt relief initiative Black farmers' share of U.S. farms has drastically declined over the past century BOYDTON, Virginia, April 30 (Reuters) - As a fourth generation farmer, Virginia resident John Boyd Jr typically spends the busy spring season prepping his land to plant sweet corn seeds and soybeans. But Boyd, the president and founder of the National Black Farmers Association, has also been busy fielding inquiries from Black farmers anxious about the impact of President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs. here. 'The farmers are calling and saying,'Hey, Boyd, should I plant my crop, man? This ain't looking good for us. Have you heard anything from anybody where we can get some emergency loans?' Boyd recounted in an interview, as he worked on his farm. 'And it's frustrating because the answer is no. We don't have the resources to help them.' In several interviews, agricultural sociologists, public health and government and governance experts and advocates said the impact of Trump's tariffs could be more acute for Black farmers, given their historical challenges in accessing capital, retaining ownership of their land and the enduring legacy of decades of discrimination and racism. Groups representing U.S. farmers and food processors have been mostly critical of Trump's tariffs on imports, which analysts say will hike prices for consumers. The American Farm Bureau Federation, the leading farm lobby, said the tariffs threaten farmers' competitiveness and could cause long-term damage. 'Everything about trade and tariffs over the past few months has just been so erratic that it is tough for businesses, for farmers, for analysts to know what's gonna happen, not only in the long term, but even from day to day or even hour to hour,' said Bill Winters, a Georgia Tech University sociology professor. Black farmers today account for less than 2% of all U.S. farmers, a share that has significantly dropped over the past century, according to a 2024 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service. In 1920, 41.4 million acres were operated by Black farmers. By contrast, a USDA Census of Agriculture data report found Black producers operated 32,700 farms and ranches, covering about 5.3 million acres in 2022. In a March 2021 website post affirming the agency's commitment to civil rights, former USDA secretary Tom Vilsack said the government needed to acknowledge the "USDA's history of systemic discrimination via policies and programs designed to benefit those with access, education, assets, privilege rather than for those without." He pledged to root out systemic racism and barriers experienced by Black farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, and poor areas in rural America. The post appears to have since been removed, opens new tab from the USDA's site. Since returning to the White House, Trump has spent the past 100 days aggressively dismantling diversity -- and civil rights -- initiatives across the federal government. 'We spend most of our time just trying to survive on what's thrown at us,' Boyd said, noting that unequal access has existed regardless of who occupies the Oval Office. But he said farmers are concerned about the ripple effects of dismantling programs aimed at remedying discrimination. 'ACTION TO SUPPORT FARMERS' Farming accounts for more than a third of U.S. land. While the number of farms is dwindling and their average size growing, family-owned and operated farms still account for the vast majority of land farmed, according to USDA. A USDA spokesperson said that over the last four years, the Biden administration left the USDA "in complete disarray and dysfunction." "President Trump is taking strong action to support farmers by quickly rolling out programs like the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program that provides $10 Billion in direct assistance to producers," the USDA said in a statement. "USDA does not discriminate and single out individual farmers based on race, gender, or political orientation." The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act signed by former president Joe Biden in 2021, in part set aside billions in debt relief to help socially disadvantaged farmers -- and to address the USDA's history of discrimination. But, the program was repealed following lawsuits filed by white farmers. A subsequent race-neutral program was passed through the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. 'With tariffs right now, from a Black farmer's perspective, it really doesn't affect us because we have been shut out for 100 years,' said Corey Lea, a Tennessee farmer and advocate. Keon Gilbert, a Brookings Institution governance studies fellow and Saint Louis University public health professor, said Black farmers fear they won't receive payments awarded as part of the legislation. The tariffs, he said, could compound an already fragile situation. 'What could possibly happen is we may see a continued decline in Black farms. Many of those farmers have smaller properties, smaller land, and that may all just go away," Gilbert said. Meanwhile, Boyd will continue to fight to preserve his family's multi-generational farming legacy. "By the grace of God, I'm going to plant my crops," Boyd said.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump trade war with China hurting US farmers, advocate says
(NewsNation) — U.S. farmers are already feeling adverse effects from President Donald Trump's escalating trade war with China, the president of the National Black Farmers Association says. John Boyd Jr. told 'NewsNation Prime' on Sunday that Trump's tariffs are a 'national travesty' for America's farmers, who typically sell billions in soybeans and other products to China each year. 'This week, China announced that it would be making a large purchase from Brazil, our top competitor for soybeans in this country,' he said. Boyd said farmers currently face a myriad of challenges. He said banks are reluctant to make operating loans to farmers amid the recent market volatility triggered by the tariff policies. China to cut Hollywood film imports amid Trump tariff escalation Meanwhile, he said, the Trump administration's attempts to downsize government will make it more difficult for farmers to get assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Boyd said he supported Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, but many of his peers who supported Republican Trump are similarly hurting. 'The very population that put him into office in these highly populated 'red' states are the first to get punched in the face by the president,' he said. Boyd, a fourth-generation family farmer who works 1,300 acres in Virginia, said he hopes the Trump administration will listen to farmers moving forward. He said he also hopes the banking sector will come through with emergency loans. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
05-04-2025
- Business
- CBS News
After Trump announced new tariffs on "Liberation Day," Americans react: "Buckle up and get ready for the ride"
President Trump's tariffs have sent the stock market spiraling and shockwaves through the American economy, affecting farmers, autoworkers and small business owners. "I've never seen anything like this, and I've been farming for 42 years," said John Boyd Jr., a fourth-generation farmer in Virginia and president of the National Black Farmers Association. He said the price of corn, wheat and soybeans — controlled by the markets — have all tanked, impacting the farmers' bottom line. On Friday, China announced retaliatory tariffs of 34% on all U.S. goods starting Thursday, which will make U.S.-grown crops more expensive. Another trading partner, the EU, has vowed to retaliate as well if Mr. Trump's tariffs go into effect next week as planned. "Other countries are going to start to look for different places to start to buy soybeans and corn and wheat. Brazil is right behind us in production," he said. Mr. Trump insists that these actions are his way of standing up for farmers and ranchers. Other nations such as Japan, China and India have charged higher tariffs than the U.S. for importing American farm goods. However, Boyd said, farmers are the ones who will be hurt: "I think it's a very sad situation that farmers are the ones who helped put him into office, and we are the ones who are taking the hit." Outside the White House on Thursday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins took questions from reporters about Mr. Trump's tariffs. "For our farmers and our ranchers, they understand that there may be a short time of uncertainty," Rollins said when asked about complaints about the tariffs. Boyd fears that uncertainty may be here to stay. "I think it's going to be long-term pain for America's farmers and to buckle up and get ready for the ride," he said. Rollins also said the Trump administration is preparing programs to address potential economic consequences. During Mr. Trump's first term, farmers received about $23 billion worth of bailouts after tariffs led to financial losses. Still, even if there is relief, Boyd said many farmers are worried they're going to have to shut down their farms — himself included. Meanwhile, an American shrimp industry group hailed Mr. Trump's actions. The Florida-based Southern Shrimp Alliance, which represents people in the shrimp industry from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas, said over 90% of all U.S. shrimp and seafood is imported from overseas, with the top three shrimp suppliers being India, Ecuador and Indonesia. Leann Bosarge, a member of the group's board of directors, told CBS News the U.S. domestic shrimp industry is made up of small, multigenerational fishing family businesses. "So for the last two decades, those small businesses have actually been trying to combat the unfair trade on a global scale, if you can imagine how daunting a task that is," Bosarge said. "… Our industry finally felt like we had recognition from, yes, the top, the U.S. president, but also policymakers and trade representatives that this unfair trade does in fact exist, that we have been fighting it, that we need help and that it's time for change." American business owners who import products from China will also feel the effects of the tariffs. David Mauro, founder of plush toy business told CBS News he's been relying on a Chinese manufacturer since he started his business three years ago. "When we started, making toys in America, you know, that didn't exist, that industry does not exist here … so we had no other option than to look overseas," Mauro said. He expects to pay about $38,000 in tariffs for a shipment of about $60,000 in goods that's en route from China to the U.S. "That's tough for a small business to do, that's tough for an individual to do," Mauro told CBS News. "That hurts, right? So, you know, we're going to have to take out a loan, maybe, you know, dip into our child's college education, but we've got to get that money back, so we'll have to raise prices, we'll have to pass that along, and, you know, when you raise prices, you don't sell as much." In Michigan, Mira Zeigler-Moore has worked on the line at Stellantis — the company behind Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and other car brands — for more than six years and is a member of the United Auto Workers union. "I take so much pride in being able to make these vehicles," Zeigler-Moore said. She's currently on medical leave, and in an earlier round of layoffs, learned she would be losing her job at the end of the month. "It hurt, it hurt," Zeigler-Moore said. "… But I have to pay bills, you know, I have to have a place to live." She's had hip and joint replacements and is a breast cancer survivor. And now with Mr. Trump's 25% tariff on imported cars and parts in effect, additional layoffs are coming. In a memo to North American employees, Stellantis announced the company is "continuing to assess the medium- and long-term effects of these tariffs." The automaker is temporarily laying off 900 employees at five U.S. factories in the Midwest as a result of pausing production at some of its Canadian and Mexican plants. At the Motor City Sports Bar and Grill, the watering hole for one of those American plants, Warren Stamping, plant worker Howard P. Watson expressed concerns about tariffs raising the prices of other things even if they may be ultimately good for the auto industry. "It's going to affect a lot of the small people," he said. In a statement, United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain took aim at the cuts, saying, "Stellantis continues to play games with workers' lives." While Fain hasn't always been supportive of Mr. Trump, the union chief backs his tariff plan, saying it's a step to end the 'free trade' disaster." Megan Cerullo and Alex Sundby contributed to this report.
