MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP, abc24.com) - Black farmers who said they were discriminated against when they sought Agriculture Department loans but were left out of a previous settlement with the federal government have until May 11 to file a new claim for thousands of dollars.
A settlement reached in 1999 by lawyers for black farmers and the USDA in the Pigford v. Glickman lawsuit provided about $1 billion to 15,000 farmers who alleged they were discriminated against when they were denied a USDA loan between 1981 and 1996.
However, many black farmers missed the deadline and either filed a late claim or did not file one at all.
A second agreement allows black farmers who filed a late claim for the 1999 settlement - or their relatives - to file a new claim application.
