The U.S. Department of Agriculture has dropped race and sex preferences from its farm programs after a lawsuit settlement.

Wisconsin dairy farmer Adam Faust sued when the Dairy Margin Coverage Program charged him a fee that was waived for farmers classified as "socially disadvantaged." The case highlighted systemic bias in federal aid.

The settlement obliges USDA to eliminate discriminatory criteria in all farm assistance, ensuring that financial benefits are allocated without regard to race or sex.

Farmers nationwide will now receive uniform treatment under federal programs, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape of U.S. agriculture and restoring confidence in government support.