House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member David Scott today released the following statement regarding the establishment and launch of the Southern Farmer Financial Association (SFFA) by the U.S.  Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“Any farmer will tell you that farming requires a large amount of capital to keep an operation going. Due to inequitable access to capital, many farmers have not been allowed to reach their full potential or even get started in farming. 

“Expanding lending and financial services, especially those who have been historically underserved by traditional lenders or even USDA’s Farm Service Agency, is an important step toward leveling the playing field. It was what House Democrats had in mind when we provided the funding under the Inflation Reduction Act to create entities like the Southern Farmer Financial Association.

“The new SFFA will empower producers so that they can continue to benefit their communities, grow their businesses, and succeed in agriculture for generations to come.

“I want to thank Cornelius Blanding, Shirley Sherrod, and their respective organizations for continuing to work towards expanding credit access in Georgia and neighboring states.”