“It’s a beautiful thing:” Black Farmers Conference connects industry professionals with local resources, highlights inequalities

DOVER, Del.- “I’m 71 years-old. I started farming with my dad when I was 10 years old, and I just loved being on the tractor. It’s a beautiful thing,” Scott said.

Chester Scott Jr. is a fourth generation Delaware farmer. He said rising operational costs and the desire to expand his 19-acre family farm led him to the 2023 Black Farmers Conference at Delaware State University. “Our farmers are under served, meaning that they just don’t have the knowledge and awareness. What does that loan application even look like? Or even when the loan application comes up, do they know the deadlines? Do they know how to fill how the paperwork?” DSU Dean for the College of Agriculture, Science and Technology Dr. Cherese Winstead said. 

The event allowed farmers like Scott the opportunity to connect with officials from the state’s Department of Agriculture, the USDA, and more to learn about what resources are available.

Dr. Winstead with says that specific group has lost out on about 16 million acres, which equals around $350 billion in missed profit. On top of that, their presence is on the decline. “Which over time from the early 1900s to 2023, that number decreased from 17% to 1.7%,” Dr. Winstead said.

We’re told the biggest barrier is cost, as an average tractor could cost a farmer up to $275,000-thousand dollars. That’s why understanding what financing options and other resources you have available can help keep your farm running. “With the Inflation Reduction Act, we have a lot of funding available to farmers and ranchers in the improvement of conservation practices which helps the overall yield. That improvement of yield means improvement of economy for the local community and the state,” Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Gloria M. Greene said.

The Scott farm is a full-on family operation. Mr. Scott says increase diversity is only half the battle, but getting those future farmers excited about a life out in nature is the challenge. ‘If that can be passed on to the younger generation to do something different. Put your hands on a saw, just doing something and putting some hard work into it it’s a good payback. It’s a beautiful experience,” Scott said.

USDA officials tell us they’re working on improving their programs and increasing education and outreach.

With DSU being a USDA land grant institution, school leaders want to increase their footprint in the area by seeking more students interested in agriculture.