Black Farmers

Farmer Tosha Phonix of A.C.E.R.E.S is photographed on Thursday May 16, 2024, at her farm in St. Louis’ Walnut Park neighborhood Phonix is encouraging north St. Louis city residents to start their own gardens this summer. She recently collaborated with other Black farmers and published a zine titled "A Guide to Black Farming in North St. Louis."

A St. Louis farmer wants more north city residents to grow their own food

Ulaa Kuziez

Tosha Phonix says gardens and farms empower Black communities in St. Louis.

A farmer plants corn into a stand of a cover crop in Indiana on May 4, 2023. The USDA added two sections covering credit and socially disadvantaged producers in it's annual America’s Farmers and Ranchers at a Glance report.

USDA study finds socially disadvantaged farmers operate at a higher risk

A U.S. Department of Agriculture report found “socially disadvantaged producers,” especially Black farmers, operate at a higher risk level compared to their white counterparts and are less likely to receive government payments.

Leah Lee is the founder of Growing Food Growing People

Health, Science & Environment

Leah Lee has a mission: To reconnect Black women to farming

Miya Norfleet

Leah Lee founded Growing Food Growing People to fill a void of representation in the farming community. She’ll be instructing an eight-week class called Gardening 101.

The American Rescue Plan Act promised to relieve farmers of color of $4 billion in debt. One year later, farmers are still waiting.

Health, Science & Environment

One year later, farmers of color are still waiting on billions of federal relief dollars

Dana Cronin

The American Rescue Plan promised $4 billion in debt relief to “socially disadvantaged farmers.” But a swarm of lawsuits from banks and white farmers alleging discrimination has put the aid on hold.

Brendalyn King and Osei Doyle, partners and co-founders of the Salem Hemp Kings, pose in front of 244 acres of land they purchased last year around Lake Placid in central Missouri. They plan to grow hemp and process the fibers into materials that serve as wood alternatives. For instance, hemp stalks can be ground up into hemp hurd and pressed together into floor boards.

Health, Science & Environment

Black farmers see new opportunities in the budding industrial hemp industry

Corinne Ruff

There’s a glaring disparity issue in industrial hemp production — just 6% of producers are Black. A couple in Missouri hopes to create the state’s first Black-owned hemp processing site.