By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer 

Should Black folks consider returning to farming? 

Posted Nov. 7, 2007 - Leaders in the Democratic Party will hold a news conference today to shore up support for $288 billion over the next five years to help American farmers. 

When I looked at the dollars on the table, I wondered whether this bill be good or bad for Black farmers?  After a closer look, I asked, “what Black farmers?”  

Black farmers are disappearing, and in some states, they’re already gone. 

 The reason is simple: Blacks decided to leave the profession and head to the industrial states for higher-paying jobs or higher education. 

While farming always has been hard work, Black farmers had the added pressures of enduring racism and road blocks that often prohibited them from owning and operating independent farms.

According to the U.S. Census of Agriculture, the number of Black farmers peaked in the 1920s, with more than 925,000 Black farmers among the 650 million farmers in the United States.  Those numbers spiraled down the next four decades, and by the 1960s there were less than 90,000 Black farms in operation.  Now, they’re fewer than 19,000. 

 The farm debate began on Monday and looks like it will pass without much push-back from Senate Republicans.  If it passes, it will put more fresh fruit in school lunches, and guarantee more spending for conservation and subsidies to boost crop prices and farmers’ income.  

This bill will give very wealthy farmers a variety of alternative funding to plant organic crops, support small farmers’ markets and rural development, and create a commission to keep an eye on food safety.

 Farming is now big business.  I wonder if Black folks gave up the vocation too soon.