Seth Bodine / Harvest Public Media Originally published on June 11, 2021 3:11 pm Updated 3:08 p.m., June 11: A federal judge paused the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s debt relief program for farmers of color. The payments are part of the $5 billion set aside in the most recent stimulus bill to support farmers of color. A conservative law firm filed the suit, claiming the program violated the constitutional rights of white farmers. U.S. District Judge William Griesbach in Milwaukee issued a temporary restraining order Thursday. The USDA program pays 120% of debts administered by the Farm Service Agency or from a Commodity Credit Corporation Farm Storage Facility Loan. Payments were scheduled to be sent starting in June.