Farmers Saw Biden's 30x30 Plan As A 'Land Grab,' Here's Why You No Longer Hear About It

American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall focused on sustainability and climate policy during AFBF's annual convention earlier this week, saying with Congress ramping up legislative proposals and the public increasingly calling for climate action, more climate related policies are on the horizon. But Duvall vowed to members that AFBF will continue to press for policy that progresses agriculture, instead of harming farmers and ranchers. 

Specifically, Duvall also discussed the President's executive order to commit to conserving at least 30% of land and water by the year 2030. He says AFBF was very aggressive in talking to the administration about the possible implications of the plan. 

"When rumors rumbled about 30x30, or 'America the Beautiful,' we jumped right in to have frank conversations with the administration. Today, we don't hear as much about 30x30, or the 'America the Beautiful plan,' thanks to how we advocated for principles straight from your policy book. Because we shared your concerns, the administration's proposals recognize your contributions to conservation. We'll keep watching like a hawk to ensure their ideas translate to responsible policy."

To reach the 30% target, it would require adding an additional area twice the size of Texas, or more than 440-million acres. Duvall says farmers and ranchers have already enrolled 140-million acres in conservation programs, adding that's the size of New York and California combined.

America the Beautiful Plan 

In early May of 2020, the Biden Administration unveiled the name and additional details of the plan to conserve 30% of U.S. land and water by the year 2030.

The administration says it's a 10 year, locally-led and voluntary nationwide effort to conserve, connect and restore 30% of the nation's lands and waters by the year 2030. 

The Biden administration did lay out six priority areas...

• Creating more parks in nature-deprived communities
• Supporting tribally led conservation and restoration priorities
• Expanding collaborative conservation of fish and wildlife habitats and corridors
• Increasing access for outdoor recreation
• Creating jobs by investing in restoration and resilience
• Incentivizing and rewarding the voluntary conservation efforts of fishers, ranchers, farmers and forest owners

Vilsack continued to highlight the plan in May, talking about how USDA plans to provide financial resources to help conservation efforts in agriculture. 

"It will take more resource than we have we have had in the past, and that's why the President's budget has proposed additional resources for the Department of Agriculture in terms of its conservation responsibilities and its forest responsibilities to it's incumbent upon us to figure out creative ways to leverage those resources, which is why it's important to underscore the locally led component of the America Beautiful effort," Vilsack said. "Number three, it is also necessary that you match the financial resources with the personnel resources so that the resources, the financial resources are invested wisely and appropriately."