(DURHAM) -- African-American farmers from across North Carolina gathered in Durham on Monday to talk with attorneys about a settlement that awards compensation stemming from a discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Duplin County native Dennis Fullwood had a family that grew tobacco, soybeans and cucumbers for years, but was never able to gain USDA funding.

Fullwood said many black farmers in that area followed the same unfortunate path. "I may know six, which at one time there was over 130 some farmers and they all gave up, not having the opportunity to get loans and buy the equipment, to update the equipment or anything else," said Fullwood.

A group of African-American farmers sued the USDA for $1.15 billion dollars. In 2010, President Obama signed a settlement into law.