By Mark Harris

America’s farmers should never have to wonder whether the federal government will treat them differently because of their race or gender. Federal assistance should be awarded according to need, eligibility, and merit, with every farmer held to the same standard.

Farmers are the backbone of this nation. They work tirelessly every day to feed our families, fuel our economy, and sustain rural communities across the country. When they face hardship and need support, the government’s responsibility should be simple: ensure assistance reaches those who truly need it and qualify for it.

In North Carolina, agriculture is not just an industry; it is a way of life. Our state is home to nearly 50,000 farms, many of which are located in North Carolina’s Eighth Congressional District, which I represent in the US House of Representatives. North Carolina leads the nation in the production of sweet potatoes and tobacco and remains a major producer of soybeans, corn, poultry, and a variety of fruits and vegetables. 

As North Carolina’s population and agricultural economy continue to grow, it is critical that farmers have access to the tools, resources, and assistance they need to succeed. Farmers today face rising production costs, inflation, unpredictable weather, supply chain challenges, and economic uncertainty. Federal assistance programs administered through the US Department of Agriculture should exist to help farmers overcome these obstacles fairly and equally.

Unfortunately, current federal law does not always live up to that standard.

Under existing USDA policy, some programs prioritize individuals classified as “socially disadvantaged.” Federal law defines a “socially disadvantaged” farmer or rancher as someone who has been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their membership in a group, without regard to their individual qualities. In practice, this classification has been used to provide enhanced benefits or priority consideration in certain USDA agricultural and conservation programs based on one’s race, and even their gender.

That is discriminatory, plain and simple.

No farmer should receive preferential treatment, and no farmer should be pushed to the back of the line because of their race or gender. Assistance programs should reward hard work, demonstrated need, and objective qualifications, not divide Americans based on identity.

Farmers and ranchers wake up before sunrise, work through unpredictable weather conditions, and make sacrifices to keep their farms running. The challenges farmers face do not discriminate. Federal law and USDA programs should not either.

That is why I introduced the Equal Treatment for Farmers Act. This legislation removes race- and gender-based “socially disadvantaged” classifications from federal law in USDA programs and restores equal treatment under the law. It ensures every farmer and rancher is treated fairly and with dignity while preserving access to the federal resources and support programs rural Americans rely on.

This bill is not about denying assistance to anyone. It is about ensuring that every farmer is judged by the same standards and given the same opportunity to succeed.

Farmers deserve a government that puts hard work and need first. The men and women who feed our nation, clothe our backs, and keep America strong should never have to wonder whether they will be treated differently because of who they are.

Congress has a responsibility to ensure federal programs uphold the principles of fairness and equal treatment that America was founded upon. The Equal Treatment for Farmers Act does exactly that.

Congressman Mark Harris represents North Carolina’s 8th District and serves on the House Judiciary, Education and Workforce, and Agriculture committees.