White Minnesota Farmer Sues State Over Discriminatory Program

Attorney says grant program runs afoul of Constitution’s equal protection guarantees.

Minnesota farmer Lance Nistler in December 2023. Courtesy of Pacific Legal Foundation

A Minnesota farmer is suing the state over an agricultural grant program that discriminates on the basis of race and sex.

The program, called the Down Payment Assistance Grant Program, provides up to $15,000 in funding to help “emerging” farmers purchase farmland. It’s administered by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Rural Finance Authority.