ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, January 31, 1997 TAG: 9701310075
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: Associated Press
A candidate to head the national Farm Service Agency office said in a report to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman that racial discrimination is a problem in Department of Agriculture programs in Virginia.
``I am persuaded ... that discrimination does, in fact, exist within the ranks of this huge department,'' Lloyd Jones, Virginia director of the USDA's Rural Development program, said in the report submitted Wednesday.
Jones, who is black, said he has been ``on the receiving end of off-color remarks, ethnic jokes and insensitive behavior towards minorities and women.'' He said he submitted the report to clarify recent allegations about discrimination.
Black farmers in Virginia and other states have organized to save their farms, many of which are threatened by foreclosure. They say discrimination in USDA lending programs caused or contributed to their financial problems.
Black-run farms disappeared at three times the rate of all farms between 1982 and 1992, the year of the most recent agricultural census. Glickman has vowed to stamp out pockets of discrimination against blacks and women within USDA.
According to Jones, a ```good ol' boy' system is still a force to be reckoned with'' in the agency.
``I am convinced that discriminatory practices become such a way of life with some people that it is difficult, if not impossible, for them to separate right from wrong and cultural acceptance from blatant double and triple standards for people ... that has nothing to do with the character of the person or their ability to manage a farming operation,'' Jones wrote.
His report cited state investigations into civil rights complaints that went nowhere after being sent to the national office.
In two cases where the national office found discrimination last July and October, the decisions came 21/2 years and 41/2 years after the complaints originally were filed.
Jones included several recommendations for improving civil rights compliance at the department. They include settling cases quickly when discrimination has been proven; giving civil rights a high priority; having a diverse work force; addressing minority and small-farmer issues in bills that periodically set national agricultural policy; and allowing managers to take immediate action to deal with ``insubordinate and insensitive behavior.''
The Farm Service Agency administers $18billion worth of USDA programs. The current administrator, Grant Buntrock, has resigned effective April 5.
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