No Seat at the Table: Black Farmers Say They Were Cut Out

National Black Farmers Association president John Boyd Jr. says Black and small farmers are being sidelined as federal agriculture priorities shift away from equity and inclusion.

By: Haitian prime News|February 5, 2026|Washington, D.C.

Black farmers are raising alarms after being excluded from federal agricultural discussions, sparking renewed concerns about equity, access, and accountability in U.S. farm policy.

Speaking on MSNBC with journalist Katy Tur, John Boyd Jr., president of the National Black Farmers Association, said he was denied access to a recent White House farm meeting and informed that Black farmer issues were no longer being prioritized.

“They said they were moving away from the Black farmer issue,” Boyd said, recounting conversations he described as direct and explicit. According to Boyd, administration officials told him the focus had shifted away from diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and small farmers, toward white farmers and large corporate producers deemed to generate the most output.

Boyd said he was told that farmers of color might be reconsidered in the future, but for now were no longer part of the administration’s immediate agenda. “Where’s the accountability?” he asked. “I’m a farmer just like anybody else.”

The comments come at a time when many U.S. farmers are under financial strain due to tariff policies implemented under Donald Trump. While the administration has repeatedly stated that billions of dollars in relief were distributed to help farmers offset losses tied to trade disputes, Boyd disputes those claims, saying Black farmers have not seen meaningful access to that aid.

Advocates warn that excluding Black farmers from policy discussions risks deepening long-standing disparities in land ownership, credit access, and federal program participation—issues that have historically marginalized Black agricultural producers.

The report was filed by AURN News White House correspondent Ebony McMorris.

Sources

MSNBC interview with John Boyd Jr.

National Black Farmers Association statements

AURN News reporting