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Nebraska rancher wants more information from Biden administration on 30×30

A Western Nebraska cattle rancher says she’s confused by the new details in the Biden administration’s conservation goals report.  

Jaclyn Wilson of Lakeside tells Brownfield the ‘America the Beautiful” initiative, previously called 30×30, is too vague. “I’m talking about farmers and ranchers who I think are the ideal conservationists. It’s kind of a little concerning for all of us out here,” Wilson says. “We don’t like to be told what D.C. has to tell us because they’re not out here living it day in and day out.”

The report outlines what it describes as locally led, voluntary efforts to conserve 30-percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030.

Wilson, who raises Red Angus cattle in the Sandhills, says she’s talked with other producers and they are also unsure what it could do to their operations. “I think anytime that there is still speculation about what may happen,” she says. “There’s definitely some uneasiness in the countryside right now. I know there are a lot of discussions on it.”

Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon says he agrees there isn’t enough information to fully understand its impacts. “It can’t be good when you have a small percentage of land that is federally owned. This is really about land confiscation someway if you’re going to make this work in Nebraska, so I don’t see any good for Nebraska in the 30×30 plan,” Bacon says.

Bacon made his comments Thursday during a news conference announcing a coalition with the Nebraska Farm Bureau, state chamber and the congressional delegation opposing federal tax hikes.