A New Era Of Civil Rights For The USDA

WASHINGTON – Tomorrow and Friday, the members of USDA's Minority Farmer Advisory Committee will meet for the first time to discuss efforts to increase minority participation in department programs and services.  

The goal of this committee is to ensure fair and equal access to USDA services. Members will advise Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on additional ways the department can continue building an inclusive future with targeted outreach and assistance to minority and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

Members of the committee are appointed for two-year terms by the secretary. The nominees include socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers; representatives of nonprofit organizations that work with minority farmers and ranchers; civil rights professionals; representatives from institutions of higher learning; and other persons the secretary deems appropriate. The Minority Farmer Advisory Committee is authorized under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill) and will advise the secretary on "implementation of section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990; methods of maximizing the participation of minority farmers and ranchers in USDA programs; and civil rights activities within the Department as such activities relate to participants in such programs."

The meeting will be held at the Memphis Crowne Plaza with public comment on August 11, 2011, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

The following committee members include Robert Anderson, Oklahoma Black Historical Research Project, Donna Brew, Farmer/Rancher, Ben Burkett, Farmer/Rancher, William Buster, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Jeannie Crittendon, Farmer, Archie Hart, Farmer, Paula Garcia, New Mexico Acequia Association, Omar Garza, U.S. Mexico Border Coalition, Dr. Dewayne Goldman, Black Growers Council, William Hudson, Florida A & M University, Richard Molinar, University of California, Brian Thomas, Farmer/Rancher, Baldemar Velasquez, Farm Labor Organizing Committee, Randall Ware, Farmer/ Rancher, and John Zippert, Federation of Southern Cooperatives,