The number of Black farmers in the U.S. has fallen dramatically over the last century – from about a million in 1920 to fewer than 50,000 by 2017, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

There are many causes for the falloff, including the USDA excluding Black farmers from assistance programs. But a North Carolina lawmaker is spearheading the effort in Congress to reverse the decline.

What You Need To Know

  • Rep. Alma Adams, a Democrat from North Carolina, has proposed a bill that would stimulate and support a new influx of Black farmers

  • The bill, known as the Justice for Black Farmers Act , would protect existing land and restore land lost by Black farmers, address discrimination in the USDA and create a farm conservation corps to encourage young people to become farmers

  • The number of Black farmers in the U.S. has fallen dramatically over the last century – from about a million in 1920 to fewer than 50,000 by 2017, according to the USDA

Charles Lucas has worked his land in central North Carolina for nearly half a century. He bought his land in 1975. At that time it was 68 acres. Along the way, he told Spectrum News, there were challenges.

"I couldn't get no money, I couldn't get no loans and couldn't get nobody to be interested in this farm. I guess they didn't think they knew what I was doing, or they just didn't want to help me," Lucas said.

Despite the hurdles, Lucas pushed forward. Today, he grows vegetables. But he's a rarity: Black farmers are hard to find. The American Economic Association found that Black agricultural land ownership declined 90% from 1920 to 1997, a loss of roughly $326 billion in farmland.

"For decades, it's been issues with accessing capital," Lucas said. "Years ago, access to land. That's No. 1."

North Carolina Rep. Alma Adams, a Democrat, has proposed a bill that would stimulate and support a new influx of Black farmers.

The bill, known as the Justice for Black Farmers Act, would protect existing land and restore land lost by Black farmers, address discrimination in the USDA and create a farm conservation corps to encourage young people to become farmers.

"It's imperative that we address this," said Kenrett Jefferson-Moore, Professor and Chair of the Department. of Agribusiness, Applied Economics and Agriscience Education at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

The school has a farm on-site for students to learn.

She said the legislation is critical for keeping young people engaged in agriculture.

"There's been a resurgence actually in interested farming," she said. "I think students and prospective students are interested in getting back and learning [about] their food. They want to have their hands in the soil."

Back in Montgomery County, Lucas' hands will continue to cater to the land. He recently expanded to create a farmer's market and hopes more Black people will become farmers. Despite the challenges farmers face, he said he is not looking for a handout.

"I just would like to see a level playing field. I don't know what the government should do," Lucas said. "I don't know if that's the answer or not. But I just think everybody should be getting a fair shake, not being handed out. I don't really need no handout, just need a hand up."

The bill Adams introduced in Congress would also provide financial support to 1,890 HBCU schools, including N.C. A&T.