Black Farmer Urges Senate to Reform Barriers to Credit and Insurance

Image Credit, Rowe Organic Farms

WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 11, 2025 – The future of American farming took center stage today as Sedrick Rowe, a pioneering young Black farmer from Albany, Georgia, testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Rowe, a first-generation organic peanut grower and a key advocate for agricultural policy reform, spoke candidly about the persistent barriers preventing young and beginning farmers—particularly farmers of color—from accessing the credit and risk management programs essential to sustaining a successful farm.

During the hearing, titled Perspectives From the Field: Risk Management, Credit, and Rural Business Views on the Agricultural Economy Part 3, Rowe highlighted the struggles he has faced in securing land, financing, and insurance since launching his 30-acre farm, Rowe Organic Farms. He emphasized the bureaucratic obstacles built into federal loan programs and the urgent need for Congress to take decisive action.

“As a young farmer, I’ve had to fight every step of the way to secure land, financing, and reliable insurance,” Rowe stated in his testimony. “While federal programs exist to support farmers, too many barriers still keep young and beginning farmers—especially farmers of color—from getting the assistance they need to start and sustain successful farm businesses. Congress has an opportunity to change that.”

Rowe is not just a farmer but also a leader in the growing organic peanut industry. As a founding member of the Georgia Organic Peanut Association (GOPA), he has helped small and medium-sized farmers gain better access to markets. Beyond his own farming work, Rowe is actively involved in agricultural education and policy, collaborating with the Soil Health Institute and pursuing a Ph.D. at Tuskegee University in Integrated Bioscience.

In his testimony, Rowe will zero in on several pressing issues that hinder new farmers, particularly those seeking credit through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). He pointed out how restrictive collateral requirements and outdated income assessments fail to account for the financial challenges of startup farms, ultimately leaving many new farmers without viable funding options. He also noted the role student loan debt plays in further limiting access to farm loans, exacerbating an already difficult landscape.

Additionally, Rowe will call for significant improvements to risk management programs such as Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). He asserts that these programs—meant to help small- and mid-scale farms weather unpredictable conditions—often fail to provide meaningful support due to rigid eligibility requirements and insufficient incentives for enrollment.

“The next Farm Bill is our best opportunity to fix these systemic barriers,” Rowe asserted. “If Congress does not act, young farmers will continue to struggle to access the resources they need, jeopardizing the future of American agriculture.”

Rowe urged lawmakers to implement a range of reforms, including:

• Expanding credit access by making FSA loan programs more flexible and inclusive for beginning farmers.
• Strengthening crop insurance by increasing incentives for small farms and broadening access to revenue-based protection programs.
• Investing in local, community-based initiatives that support land access, credit, and market opportunities for young farmers.

His testimony will come at a crucial juncture in the ongoing Farm Bill negotiations, as Congress weighs policies that will shape the future of the nation’s agricultural economy. Rowe’s voice adds to a growing movement of young farmers and agricultural advocates calling for a more equitable and sustainable system—one that does not leave the next generation of farmers behind.