BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – About 150 groups from around the country that provide services to American Indian farmers and ranchers have applied to receive grant money from a $38 million fund.

It was set up as part of the federal government’s $680 million loan discrimination settlement with Native Americans in 2011. It settled a class-action lawsuit filed in 1999 by Indian farmers who said they were denied loans for decades because of government discrimination.

Most of the settlement money goes to farmers. There also is a $265 million long-term trust, and the $38 million “fast track fund” to get some money out to nonprofits more quickly.

An advisory committee will whittle down the fast track fund proposals and make a recommendation to a federal judge by Oct. 17 on which groups should get money.