You Can Only Push Folks So Long: Georgia’s Black Farmers Are Reaching Their Limit.

In Georgia, agriculture isn’t just an industry it’s identity, legacy, and survival. And for generations, Black farmers have been part of the backbone of that story. Yet somehow, every time the USDA makes a decision that affects “underserved farmers,” Black farmers in Georgia end up carrying the heaviest burden.

The latest move to cut the remaining $300 million meant to support underserved farmers is more than a budget adjustment. For Black farmers in this state — from the Black Belt counties of Southwest Georgia to the small family operations scattered across Middle and Coastal Georgia, it feels like history repeating itself.

Again.

Georgia Has Seen This Before

You can’t talk about Black farmers in Georgia without talking about the long shadow of discrimination that shaped their lives.

From the early 1900s through the civil rights era, Black farmers in Georgia were routinely denied USDA loans, disaster relief, and access to programs that white farmers received without hesitation. County committees — often the gatekeepers — made decisions that pushed Black farmers off their land, one denied loan at a time.

By the 1980s and 1990s, the disparities were so blatant that lawsuits like Pigford v. Glickman exposed decades of discrimination. Georgia farmers were part of that fight. Many filed claims. Many waited. Many never saw justice.

And while the state’s agricultural landscape changed, the treatment of Black farmers didn’t change nearly enough.

The Numbers Tell the Story

Georgia once had tens of thousands of Black farmers. Today, only a fraction remain. Land that should have been passed down, expanded, and strengthened was instead lost through discriminatory lending, delayed assistance, and bureaucratic indifference.

So when the USDA cuts funding meant to help underserved farmers, it hits Georgia’s Black farmers harder than most. They’re already operating with thinner margins, older equipment, smaller acreage, and fewer safety nets.

They’re not behind because they failed.  

They’re behind because the system pushed them there.

This Isn’t About the Past — It’s About the Pattern

Every time relief is promised, something shifts.  

Every time progress is made, something gets clawed back.  

Every time Black farmers in Georgia start to gain ground, the rules change.

So the real questions become:

- Why haven’t Black farmers in Georgia been treated with the respect and dignity they deserve?  

- Why do they continue to face higher denial rates for assistance?  

- Why does every step forward come with two steps back?

These aren’t new questions. They’re the same ones Georgia’s Black farmers have been asking for generations.

Enough Is Enough

Black farmers in Georgia don’t need another round of “we’re reviewing the process.” They don’t need another task force. They don’t need another promise that gets walked back when the political winds shift.

They need fairness.  

They need access.  

They need the same opportunities others receive without question.

And they need it now, not after another lawsuit, not after another decade of waiting, not after another round of excuses.

Because if Georgia is serious about protecting its agricultural future, then respecting and supporting Black farmers isn’t optional. It’s essential.

It's Decision week for Central Georgia Bluedog Democrat LeMario Brown... Lt. Governor or Agriculture Commissioner?

If  LeMario Brown, the 40-year-old moderate Democrat, pecan farmer, and Fort Valley City Councilman/Mayor Pro-Tem, officially enters the 2026 race for Georgia Lieutenant Governor instead of Commissioner of Agriculture, it would represent a strategic pivot from his specialized agricultural expertise toward a broader, more politically influential role. As of August 26, 2025, Brown has only for med an exploratory committee for Lieutenant Governor (announced July 13, 2025), This choice would have ripple effects on his political trajectory, rural Georgia's representation, and the Democratic Party's long-term strategy in a purple state where Republicans dominate statewide offices.

Opting for Lieutenant Governor—a role that involves presiding over the Georgia State Senate, influencing committee assignments, and serving as a potential successor to the Governor—would elevate Brown's profile beyond his rural roots. His "Growing Hope" slogan and focus on working families, veterans, small businesses, young voters, and farmers could appeal in a high-visibility race.

However, this is a riskier bet: Lieutenant Governor requires statewide name recognition, robust  fundraising, and navigating a competitive Democratic primary (currently with at least one other candidate) and general election against GOP contenders like state Sens. Blake Tillery, Steve Gooch, or John F. Kennedy. In contrast, Agriculture Commissioner aligns directly with his farming background (revitalizing pecan groves, livestock operations, and advocacy for Black and disadvantaged farmers), potentially offering a more winnable path against incumbent Tyler Harper (R), who won by only 7.5 points in 2022 amid vulnerabilities like handling bird flu outbreaks, feral hog damage, and equity issues for minority farmers.

By choosing Lieutenant Governor, Brown could position himself as a stepping stone to higher office (e.g., Governor) if successful, but a loss might sideline him politically, It


signals ambition but forgoes immediate, hands-on impact on agriculture policy. Rural Georgia, home to the state's $70+ billion agriculture industry and communities facing economic decline, infrastructure gaps, and demographic shifts, stands to gain or lose depending on Brown's success. If he runs for and wins Lieutenant Governor, rural voices could amplify in the Senate: As a lifelong rural resident and moderate with experience in economic development and farmer mentorship, Brown could push legislation on sustainable farming, tech innovations (e.g., drones for agriculture), federal aid for small farms, and rural broadband—issues he's championed through his nonprofit L.E.A.P., Inc., and local governance. This could foster bipartisanship on rural priorities, countering GOP dominance in these areas and addressing challenges like inflation-driven food costs, climate impacts, and labor shortages

However, bypassing Agriculture Commissioner means forgoing direct oversight of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, which handles critical rural functions like food safety, animal health, crop regulations, and programs like the Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption (GATE).3f20cb Without a strong Democratic alternative in that race, incumbent Harper could coast to reelection, potentially perpetuating policies critics view as favoring large agribusiness over small, diverse farmers. For rural Georgia—where Democrats have hemorrhaged support—Brown's Lieutenant Governor bid might inspire turnout among disillusioned voters but risks leaving ag-specific needs unaddressed if he loses, exacerbating urban-rural divides.

Brown's entry into the Lieutenant Governor race would signal the Democratic Party's push to reclaim statewide relevance by fielding moderate, rural, and diverse candidates, key to flipping red-leaning areas in a state that elected Democrats like Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock but struggles down-ballot. As a Black, rural moderate, he could broaden the party's appeal, rebuilding coalitions in South Georgia (e.g., through groups like the Blue Dog Coalition) and countering GOP narratives on agriculture and family values. This aligns with recent party shifts, such as former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan's party switch and considerations for Governor, highlighting fluidity in Georgia politics.

Long-term, a competitive run could energize young and minority voters, boost Democratic infrastructure in rural districts via initiatives like Contest Every Race, and set a precedent for non-Atlanta-based candidates. Success might pave the way for more moderates in top roles, strengthening the party's bench for 2030 and beyond. But a defeat, plausible in a GOP-leaning cycle could reinforce perceptions of Democratic weakness statewide, especially if the Agriculture Commissioner race lacks a viable contender, allowing Republicans to solidify control over ag policy. Overall, it represents a high-stakes bet on expansion over consolidation, potentially reshaping the party's rural strategy if it pays off.

Black Farmers have suffered long enough from the decimation of rural America and decades of systemic racism. Help from the USDA finally is long overdue.

You’ve probably heard that $5 billon dollars from President Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue stimulus plan has been dedicated to farmers of color. 

Specifically, that designation is for “socially disadvantaged farmers,” which, according to the (USDA), is anyone who has been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group. 

You should also be aware that the Biden administration is being sued by several white farmers for racial discrimination, not for the government’s past actions against people of color, but because the current administration is making an effort to address racism and the historic inequalities inflicted on people of color by the USDA.

Let’s be honest for a minute, if those on the right really cared about agriculture and rural communities, rather than targeting cash payments to large-scale farmers and agribusiness firms as they chose to do these past few years, policy makers would have dedicated adequate resources to those truly in need and made a real attempt to reform the inflexible and wasteful system that currently feeds us.

Senator Warnock in Byromville Georgia with group of black farmers

The lawsuit on behalf of a group of white farmers in Wisconsin, launched by the right-wing Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, claims that dedicating resources to specific groups to which white farmers may not belong, is racist. 

What such lawsuits really show is not a concern with agriculture, but instead a shallow form of identity politics that is meant to rally poor, rural white people to the political right.

Farmers of color, especially black producers have suffered from both the decimation of rural America as well as decades of systemic racism. 

The USDA and federal government can begin to reverse the racism against Black farmers not only through debt relief, but also the $1 billion in outreach and training from the Biden stimulus bill which is necessary to ensure that current and beginning farmers of color acquire the necessary tools to produce food for themselves and their communities. 

Most importantly, to address racism it must be confronted directly. Lacking that specific intent, history has shown us that Black people are always left behind. 

There is no anti-white racism involved here, only further attempts to perpetuate decades of institutional racism against Black farmers.