Timothy Pigford v. Thomas Vilsack

Opinion for the Court filed by Circuit Judge WILKINS.

WILKINS, Circuit Judge:

Appellee Maurice McGinnis farmed cotton and soybeans in the Mississippi River Delta near Yazoo City, Mississippi. Like millions of other small family farmers, he sought a loan through federal farm credit programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture. And he alleges that, like tens of thousands of other African-American farmers, he was denied access to those programs by the Department because of his race.

McGinnis participated in a claims process established by a class action settlement agreement…