The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending the Oct. 31 deadline for Discrimination Financial Assistance Program applications to Jan. 13, 2024, to give eligible farmers, ranchers and forest landowners more time to apply for assistance.

USDA said it was responding to feedback from potential applicants, nongovernmental program administrators and community-based organizations working closely with USDA to inform and assist eligible individuals.

The new deadline will allow more time to reach and help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners through direct, no-cost technical assistance and training sessions. The extension will also ensure everyone has adequate time to apply, including producers whose harvest season falls during the original application period. 

“USDA knows it must earn the trust of those who are eligible for this program,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “That makes transparency in the administration of the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program crucial.

“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.” 

Outreach campaign

Since the opening of the financial assistance application process on July 7, the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program team has embarked on a nationwide outreach campaign and opened 30 local offices across 26 states. Regional administrators have held more than 600 virtual and in-person events across the country. Cooperators have also held dozens of virtual and in-person events to complement these efforts while also educating their specific networks.

USDA said advertising on digital, print and radio channels targeting potentially eligible individuals and rural communities “has also been deployed. These efforts have successfully allowed program staff to reach many potential applicants and will be further increased with the new, extended deadline.”

The program was established under Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides $2.2 billion in financial assistance for farmers, ranchers and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to January 2021.

The maximum amount any individual can receive is $500,000, but the final awards will depend on the number of eligible applicants and the consequences of the discrimination.

Apply online

Eligible individuals have the option to apply online or by submitting paper-based forms via mail or in-person delivery to local program offices. Applicants are not required to retain an attorney and should take precautions to protect themselves from potential scams. 

USDA has also extended the Sept. 29 deadline to request records from USDA’s Farm Service Agency for use in applications to Nov. 3, 2023. The application process was designed so that FSA records are not required, though relevant records may be attached to an application as additional evidence if they are available.  

To learn more about the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program or receive assistance in English or Spanish, visit www.22007apply.gov, email [email protected] or contact the national call center at 1-800-721-0970 from 8 a.m. ET to 8 p.m. PT, every day except federal holidays. If you use sign language to communicate, you can use the 711 relay service to call. You may also email or contact the national call center if you have a disability and need another accommodation. Information about the program, resources, recent office openings and local events across the country is also available through a weekly e-newsletter.