As the federal farm bill approaches its expiration date this month, Georgia’s Black farmers find themselves in a precarious position, facing the prospect of a steep decline in farm profits. For decades, these farmers have endured a tragic history of racial discrimination at the hands of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), leaving them uniquely vulnerable to the economic challenges that now loom on the horizon. Despite past efforts at reform, including a landmark 1999 class action lawsuit where Black farmers sued the USDA for denying them access to crucial low-interest grants and loans, the scars of this systemic injustice remain.

Just last year, in a long-overdue acknowledgment of this shameful legacy, Congress passed a bill setting aside $2 billion to provide relief to farmers who could prove they had been victims of discrimination. This hard-fought victory represents a glimmer of hope for Georgia’s beleaguered Black farming community, many of whom have weathered generations of unfair treatment and unequal access to the resources and support necessary to sustain their livelihoods. Leading the charge for this critical aid has been Georgia’s U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, who has made supporting struggling farmers a key priority.

This summer, Warnock celebrated a significant milestone as the USDA announced it would begin distributing these funds, with an estimated $137 million slated to reach nearly 2,200 Georgia farmers who have been affected by the department’s discriminatory practices.

However, with Congress locked in bitter partisan disputes, a new farm bill that would help all farmers, including Black farmers is very unlikely.