By Cherranda Smith
May 18, 2021
In response to the calls for racial equity amplified by the Black Lives Matter protests last summer, John Deere created a coalition to help Black farmers across the US. The LEAP (Legislation, Education, Advocacy, and Production) Coalition seeks to equip Black farmers with legal and financial resources to ensure their longevity in the agricultural industry.
Over a century ago, Black farmers owned and operated farms on more than 16 million acres of land, compared to 4.7 million acres today. Racial discrimination in lending and land ownership led to the decline of Black owned farmland in the US, though several legislative and programmatic efforts have been underway to help more Black farmers.