Facing Fire and Funding Cuts, Farmer Fights to Save His Land

November 20, 2025

New York farmer David Haughton faces severe financial hardship after the USDA canceled the Local Food Purchase Assistance program in March 2025, causing him to lose 60 percent of his market as organizations could no longer afford his produce. The program, established in 2021 to help farmers recover from pandemic impacts while feeding communities, particularly supported small and minority farmers who face systemic barriers to capital. After nearly losing his 35-acre farm and home due to inability to make mortgage payments, Haughton received critical support from the Black Farmer Fund, which provides loans, grants and technical assistance specifically to Black farmers.

Who is affected

David Haughton, a Black farmer in New York operating a 35-acre farm since 1995
Small and minority farmers who relied on the LFPA program
Haughton's customers including The Campaign Against Hunger and GrowNYC
Food banks and hunger-relief organizations that received produce through LFPA
Communities in need that received fresh food through the program
Part-time workers hired by Haughton with grant funding

What action is being taken

The Black Farmer Fund is providing low-interest loans, grants and technical assistance to Black farmers through its $20 million integrated capital fund
BFF is offering support for marketing, branding, financial planning and production needs
Haughton has set up a GoFundMe for recovery from the August 2025 fire

Why it matters

This matters because the cancellation of the LFPA program has disproportionately impacted small and minority farmers who already face systemic barriers to accessing capital and resources compared to their counterparts. The loss of this funding threatens the viability of farms operated by Black farmers like Haughton, potentially resulting in land loss and further consolidation of agricultural resources away from minority communities. The situation highlights ongoing inequities in the farming industry and demonstrates how policy changes can have immediate, devastating effects on vulnerable agricultural businesses while also disrupting food assistance to communities in need.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint