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`Case 4:21-cv-00595-O Document 24-1 Filed 06/09/21 Page 1 of 3 PageID 967Case 4:21-cv-00595-O Document 24-1 Filed 06/09/21 Page 1 of 3 PageID 967
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`DECLARATION OF JOHN BOYD, JR.
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`My name is John Boyd, Jr. I am over the age of 18 and fully competent to make this
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`declaration.
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`1.
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`I am the Founder and President of the National Black Farmers Association
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`(NBFA). I am authorized to speak about NBFA’s activities as they relate to this matter.
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`2.
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`I am a fourth-generation Black farmer who has been farming for over 38 years.
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`I currently farm soybeans, corn, wheat, and hay; I also raise approximately 100 head of beef
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`cattle on farms covering over 1,500 acres in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. I have been farming
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`in Mecklenburg County since 1983.
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`3.
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`NBFA is a non-profit, membership-based organization that represents the interests
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`of Black farmers and ranchers. NBFA has over 116,000 members nationwide in 46 states,
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`consisting largely of Black farmers and ranchers. NBFA members vote on the organization’s
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`agenda items and resolutions in annual meetings.
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`4.
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`A core part of NBFA’s mission is promoting education and advocacy regarding
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`civil rights, land retention, access to public and private loans, education and agricultural training,
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`and rural economic development for Black and other small farmers and ranchers.
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`5.
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`As part of NBFA’s mission and in my capacity as NBFA President, I have for
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`decades advocated for legislation that provides loan forgiveness to Black farmers and ranchers.
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`For example, on July 19, 2019, I testified before Congress on behalf of NBFA, where I described
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`the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) history of racial discrimination and
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`called on Congress to “set aside $5 Billion to help address the needs of black and other small
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`scale farmers.’1
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`1 Testimony of J. Boyd (Appendix at 77, 79), U.S. House Hr’g re: Promoting Econ. Growth:
`Exploring the Impact of Recent Trade Policies on the U.S. Econ. (June 19, 2019),
`https://www.congress.gov/116/chrg/CHRG-116hhrg39451/CHRG-116hhrg39451.pdf
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`EXHIBIT 1
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`Case 4:21-cv-00595-O Document 24-1 Filed 06/09/21 Page 2 of 3 PageID 968Case 4:21-cv-00595-O Document 24-1 Filed 06/09/21 Page 2 of 3 PageID 968
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`6.
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`NBFA has focused on the issue of loan forgiveness because it remedies how
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`USDA has long discriminated against Black farmers and ranchers in the agency’s lending
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`practices. To provide just one example, USDA frequently imposed on Black farmers and
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`ranchers various forms of supervised loan provisions that were rarely imposed on their white
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`counterparts. These provisions restrict how the loan can be spent—for instance, by requiring
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`certain purchases to be approved by a loan officer or limiting the suppliers from whom farm
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`equipment and supplies could be purchased.
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`7.
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`These provisions cause significant harm because they lead to frequent delays in
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`the farmers’ access to equipment and supplies. Agriculture is a time-sensitive industry—the
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`planting season is narrow, and even minor delays can negatively impact a farmer’s crop yields.
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`8.
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`USDA’s history of discrimination has disproportionately affected Black farmers
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`and ranchers. Due in major part to discriminatory practices such as these, Black farmers and
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`ranchers have faced distinct obstacles to paying off debts held by USDA. Accordingly, NBFA
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`has made loan forgiveness a priority issue in its advocacy efforts.
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`9.
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`I have personal experience with USDA’s history of discrimination. When I first
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`sought USDA loans to start my own farming business in the 1980s, I was myself subjected to a
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`supervisory loan provision that required me to buy certain supplies from a specific supplier.
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`I also experienced direct racial discrimination, where USDA representatives referred to me using
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`racial slurs. In addition, at the time, Black farmers in my area seeking to apply for USDA loans
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`could only obtain appointments with USDA representatives on a single day of the week, whereas
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`white farmers were not subject to such restrictions.
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`10.
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`NBFA’s participation in this lawsuit is a key part of its mission to advocate for
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`and defend programs that provide financial assistance and support to Black farmers and ranchers.
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`EXHIBIT 1
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`Case 4:21-cv-00595-O Document 24-1 Filed 06/09/21 Page 3 of 3 PageID 969Case 4:21-cv-00595-O Document 24-1 Filed 06/09/21 Page 3 of 3 PageID 969
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`I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
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`JOHN BOYD, JR.
`Founder & President
`National Black Farmers Association
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`Executed on:
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`____
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`3
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`June 8, 2021
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`EXHIBIT 1
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