The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act defines a socially disadvantaged group as one whose members have been subject to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. USDA regulations further define socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (SDFRs) as belonging to the following groups: American Indians or Alaskan Natives, Asians, Blacks or African Americans, Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, and women. The 2018 Farm Act includes dedicated funding providing increased cost share, loss compensation and loan assistance to SDFRs, as well as provisions to incentivize research on issues faced by SDFRs. According to a GAO analysis of the 2017 Census of Agriculture, SDFRs accounted for 41 percent of all producers. Of these SDFRs 88.3 percent were women of any race, 8.1 percent were Hispanic, 4.2 were American Indian or Alaska Native, 3.3 percent were Black or African American and 1.6 percent were of Asian descent. In 2017, 30 percent of all farms were SDFR farms - meaning a SDFR was the principal operator. On average, SDFR farms were smaller and brought in less revenue than non-SDFR farms in 2017. These SDFR farms operated 21 percent of all acres and produced 13 percent of the total market value of production.
*glorified affirmative action
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