Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, wishes to remind women and Hispanic farmers and ranchers who allege discrimination by the USDA in past decades that there are fewer than 25 days to file claims.

The final day to file is March 25th.

The process offers an alternative to litigation for each Hispanic or female farmer and rancher who can prove that USDA denied his or her application for a loan or loan servicing for discriminatory reasons for particular time periods between 1981 and 2000.

Secretary Vilsack said, “USDA urges potential claimants to contact the Claims Administrator for information and mail their claim package on or before March 25th.”