The Pigford Class Action Lawsuit & the Farm Bill
Provisions to assist Black farmers denied entry in the lawsuit are in the Farm Bill

ATLANTA....There are provisions in versions of both the Senate and House Farm Bill that will assist Black farmers who filed a "petition" for a late claim but who were denied the opportunity to actually file a claim in the Pigford Class Action Lawsuit. The Farm Bill has not yet passed, however, and there's uncertainty about what the final version might contain. There is concern that many farmers around the country are perhaps making themselves vulnerable by not totally understanding that the Farm Bill has not yet passed and that the legislation, if passed, will assit only farmers who filed a petition for late claim and already have a tracking number.

Among the short comings in Farm Bill provisions for Pigford is the fact that Congress is recommending a $100 million dollar cap for farmers. This would assist only 1,600 farmers if the Pigford Case is adhered to with $50,000 for the claimants along with a $12,500 tax payment to the IRS.

There are efforts to address this funding shortcoming along with other issues legislation.

Below is information from a "Pigford Alert Notice" that the Federation/LAF distirbuted to farmers at its February 8-9, 2008 "Farmers' Conference" in Albany, Georgia.

FARMER ALERT ON PIGFORD LAWSUIT AND LEGISLATION

Pigford and the Farm Bill in Congress
African American farmers need to be alert to the fact that there are provisions in Congress in the 2007 Farm Bill on the Pigford Lawsuit. It’s important to know that this has not yet passed Congress.

Farmers who might be assisted
There were 65,989 late "petition" filers of which only 3% (2,260) were found eligible to file a claim in Pigford. This leaves a staggering 63,870 (97%) of individuals who were denied the opportunity to file a claim in the Pigford lawsuit.

These provisions in Congress apply only to persons above who filed a "petition" for a late claim before September 15, 2000. Most of these petitions were summarily denied without a hearing on their merits. There are also 7,000 farmers who attempted to file a petition just after the September 15, 2000 deadline who will likely also be covered in the legislation. Individuals who will be assisted with this provision in the Farm Bill will have a tracking number that was assigned them when they filed their petition.

Farmers who will not be assisted
Persons who found out about the case in later years and did not file a formal “petition” in the case will not be directly assisted by these provisions.

WHAT ELSE FARMERS NEED TO KNOW

• The provisions on the Pigford Lawsuit have not yet passed Congress. Everything might change.

• We don’t yet know absolutely what the Pigford Lawsuit section will have in it or whether there will be available money for farmers.

• There is nothing in the Congressional Farm Bill that says the Pigford case will be opened to new people.

• Signing with attorneys who are asking for money and claim they will be opening the lawsuit are stretching the truth. You might lose your money. Some attorneys are asking for other expenses that you might not be aware of! Be careful and cautious.

• Do not pay any individuals, organizations or lawyers who promise that they can get you into the case.

• Do not sign a contract with an attorney until we know execatly what provisions are in the Farm Bill because you may be paying for something that you do not need to pay for.

• If the Pigford Farm Bill provisions pass Congress we at the Federation/LAF will inform farmers in our network across the region with advice on what to do next.