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NE Farm Bureau concerned over executive order

Nebraska Farm Bureau is voicing its concern over President Biden’s 30 x 30 Executive Order signed in January aimed at utilizing 30 percent of U.S. land and water for conservation.

Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue says the executive order is vague and raises a number of questions. He tells Brownfield many of his acres have been signed up in the Conservation Stewardship Program over the years…

“Would those acres qualify,” he said. “CRP land, is that considered as conservation land? We just don’t know how that works, but if they do take 30 percent of privately held land and set it aside, that’s just a huge problem.

McHargue also expressed concern to making land management changes as farmers start planting. He said about 97 percent of Nebraska’s land is privately owned.

“Because we are the largest landowners, private farmers, we need to be at the table,” he said. “We are asking President Biden to ensure that we will be at the table for this particular conversation.”

Nebraska Farm Bureau sent a letter to Biden highlighting its concerns.

McHargue said Nebraska Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation will fight for farmers as more about the executive order becomes known. Biden signed the executive order on January 27th giving the administration until April 27^th to release its rules and guidelines.