SAN ANTONIO – A controversial loan forgiveness program for minority farmers across the country has been halted by a federal judge in Wisconsin. Until there’s a decision made, some Texas farmers are wondering about the future of their operations. 

Dora Peralta runs her family farm outside of San Antonio in Natalia, Texas. It’s a labor of love that spans more than three decades. 

Peralta’s father started the farm she grew up on. After he retired, she was the natural successor. 

Small farming is a volatile business. 

“There are good days that we do very well and then there are days that the farm is terrible because, you know, we don’t have enough water or we don’t have enough produce, it doesn’t produce enough,” said Peralta. 

The pandemic lockdown added to the stress of farming. 

“We had all this lettuce, we had all this Swiss chard, we had beets, we had spinach and there were no markets,” said Peralta.

But no stress was greater than watching her husband Juan fight for his life in the ICU last winter. 

“They didn’t think he’d make it, the oxygen wasn’t working, the ventilator wasn’t working, his lungs were just full of gunk and COVID had taken over his lungs,” said Peralta. 

With farming expenses after a rough year and medical bills, Peralta says she’d welcome the stalled federal assistance program. 

“If it came back I would like to get the help, yes,” said Peralta. 

But until there’s a decision on the future of the loan forgiveness program, Dora and Juan say they’ll celebrate their ability to keep farming. 

“Very lucky, very lucky to be alive. A lot of prayers, a lot of prayers from the community from everywhere,” said Juan Peralta. 

As difficult as the last year has been financially, they say there’s no other life for them.