U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack this week rejected Nebraska Governor Pete Rickett’s description of the President’s 30 by 30 plan as a ‘’ land grab’’ and questioned why the Governor is mounting such great opposition to that proposal. Nebraska’s major farm groups differ on Biden’s plan to conserve 30 percent of the nation’s lands by 2030. Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue says the plan is very vague and his group’s members have several concerns with it.

Nebraska Farmers Union President John Hansen says several ag groups weighed in when the President put 30 by 30 together and voluntary measures and local control are in that proposal.

McHargue says Nebraska’s farmers have been voluntarily participating in conservation programs and practices and have been able to conserve 11 percent of the land. He says it’s a big stretch to take that to 30 percent and how that’s done has yet to be answered.

Hansen says there is no “”land grab”” included in the Biden Administration’s 30 by 30 proposal.

Several Nebraska Counties have already responded to the Governor’s opposition to 30 by 30 and have adopted resolutions to block the plan.