SEATTLE — Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who allege discrimination by the USDA in past decades must file claims by Monday.

Hispanic and women farmers who believe they have faced discriminatory practices in the past from the USDA may receive a cash payment or loan forgiveness.

The process offers a voluntary alternative to litigation for each Hispanic or female farmer and rancher who can prove that USDA denied his or her application for loan or loan servicing assistance for discriminatory reasons for certain time periods between 1981 and 2000. The voluntary claims process will make available at least $1.33 billion for cash awards and tax relief payments, plus up to $160 million in farm debt relief, to eligible Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers. There are no filing fees to participate in the program.

Call center representatives can be reached at (888) 508-4429. Claimants may register for a claims package at www.farmerclaims.gov. Independent legal services companies will administer the claims process and adjudicate the claims.