Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

Article Title

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

Authors

Roy W. Copeland, Langdale College of Business Administration, Valdosta State UniversityFollow
William K. Buchanan, Valdosta State University

Abstract

Abstract

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

Recommended Citation

Copeland, Roy W. and Buchanan, William K. (2019) "An Examination of Heir Property, the 1980 Emergency Land Fund Study, and Analysis of Factors that Influence African American Farmers' Actions Related to Farmland," Professional Agricultural Workers Journal: Vol. 7: No. 1, 5.
Available at: https://tuspubs.tuskegee.edu/pawj/vol7/iss1/5