Document / News Article

An Examination of Heir Property, the 1980 Emergency Land Fund Study, and Analysis of Factors that Influence African American Farmers' Actions Related to Farmland

Posted 2019 Reviewed August 24, 2023
Source
Professional Agricultural Workers Journal
Author
Roy W. Copeland and William K. Buchanan
About This News Article

The study focused on heir property and analyzing African American farmers continuing in farming and dealing with clouded title. It specifically assessed the main issues raised by the 1980 Emergency Land Fund’s (ELF) study. It also surveyed a sample of African American farmers on heir property and related issues. It used descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis to analyze the data. It found that 35% of respondents had a portion of their farms (50% or less) on heir property. This study reasonably confirms ELF’s findings on the percentage of African American-owned land held as heir property. Also, for farmers, being paid a claim under Pigford, filing a claim, and farm size had significant effects on continue farming (i.e., staying in farming). Continue farming had a significant effect on taking action to resolve clouded title. Being paid and size matters to continue farming, and continue farming matters to clearing clouded title. Keywords: Heir Property, Emergency Land Fund, Land Loss, African American Farmers

Disclaimer

These resources are provided "as is" for informational purposes only, without warranty of any kind. They do not constitute legal or professional advice and do not create an attorney-client relationship. They may not reflect current legal developments and should be adapted for your organization with qualified professional help. The Alliance is not liable for any damages arising from use of or reliance on these resources. Views in individual posts and third-party links/logos are not Alliance endorsements. The Alliance is committed to equal opportunity and does not condone unlawful discrimination.

For accreditation-related materials, please also consult the Land Trust Accreditation Commission website.