MOSES LAKE - Hispanic and women ranchers and farmers who allege discrimination by the United States Department of Agriculture have until March 25 to submit their claims to the agency.

The claims process is a voluntary alternative to litigation for Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who can prove the USDA denied his or her application for a loan or loan servicing assistance for discriminatory reasons between 1981 and 2000, according to a USDA news release.

The program will make available at least $1.3 billion in cash awards and tax relief payments and up to $160 million in farm debt relief to those eligible.

USDA Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Hispanic and women farmers who believe they have faced discriminatory practices in the past from the agency need to file a claim before March 25 in order to have a chance to receive a cash payment or loan forgiveness.

"USDA urged potential claimants to contact the claims administrator for information and mail their claim packages on or before March 25," he said.

Claimants can register for a claims package by calling the USDA call center at 1-888-508-4429.