LINCOLN — The Nebraska Sorghum Producers Association (NeSPA) passed two significant resolutions in support of the rights of Nebraska farmers and to promote environmental sustainability in agriculture.
NeSPA adopted a resolution in support of the USFRA’s “Decade of Ag.” USFRA is a coalition of farmers and ranchers across the country whom have advocated on behalf of agriculturalists on issues of sustainability policy. The four goals of the “Decade of Ag” are: 1) To restore the environment through agriculture that regenerates natural resources 2) Revitalize public appreciation for agriculture 3) Invest in the next generation of agricultural systems and 4) Strengthen the social and economic fabric of America through agriculture. The initiative currently is supported by forty-five public and private sector sponsors, including McDonalds, The United Sorghum Checkoff, and the American Farm Bureau among others.
“Conservation of our water, wildlife, and soil systems is the top priority of the vast majority of agriculture producers,” stated NeSPA Executive Director, Nate Blum. “Their lives, livelihoods, and legacies depend upon good stewardship of land and animal resources. Conversations about sustainability in agriculture production and food systems are rightly happening at the local, national, and international level with an enthusiasm rarely seen in the past. NeSPA and USFRA firmly believe that agriculturalists must be at the table when policies effecting their profession are being discussed. NeSPA thanks USFRA for taking the lead on ensuring that producer’s voices are heard, and solutions, informed by firsthand experience, are being offered in the conversation.”
Next, NeSPA passed a resolution in opposition to the “America the Beautiful” initiative and the reexamination of the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS). “America the Beautiful”, also known as “30 X 30” intends to place Thirty percent of all land in the United States into conservation by the year 2030. The expansion of WOTUS in 2015 caused much concern in regard to federal overreach and improper land use restrictions on privately-owned lands. A coalition of eleven states effectively opposed the implementation of WOTUS in 2018. The rule was replaced by the of the Navigable Water Protection Rule in January 2020.
Blum continued, “Thirty percent of all the land in the United states is the equivalent area of nine states of Nebraska. Details regarding how this goal will be met have not been clear and forthcoming. The Administration has stated that these conservation efforts will be voluntary. However, voluntary conservation programs since 1985 have resulted in only twelve percent of land being placed in such programs. The coinciding announcement of the reexamination by the EPA of WOTUS indicates that the thirty percent goal will be met by reintroducing involuntary and oppressive regulatory burdens. Just as in 2015, this rule bodes disastrous for agriculture and the rights of private citizens. Moreover, this heavy-handed approach to conservation overall should be concerning to all Americans who are dependent upon reliable, safe, and inexpensive foods for the survival of their families.”
The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers has announced a public comment period for WOTUS. The public comment period runs from July 31st through August 31st. A schedule of meetings can be found at the EPA website here: www.epa.gov/wotus
Full text of the resolutions can be found below:
- “The Decade of Ag Initiative”
“Whereas the United States Farmers and Ranchers in Action (USFRA) have recognized the importance of conservation in agriculture,
AND Whereas the USFRA Decade of Ag campaign shares ideals in common with the Nebraska Sorghum Producers Association in regard to “a resilient, restorative, economically viable and climate-smart agricultural system that produces abundant and nutritious food, natural fiber and clean energy for a sustainable, vibrant and prosperous America,
AND Whereas the Nebraska Sorghum Producers Association believes that the American farmer is the original, best, and most efficient voice for conservation as the livelihood, heritage, and legacy of farmers necessarily depends upon proper stewardship and conservation of land, soil, water, and animals,
AND Whereas the Nebraska Sorghum Producers Association believes firmly that agricultural voices must be present when environmental and sustainability policy are developed which will impact agriculture positively or negatively, the Nebraska Sorghum Producers Association hereby resolves to formally support and join the USFRA Decade of Ag.”
- “30 X 30” or “The America the Beautiful” Initiative
“Whereas the Administration has proposed the perpetual voluntary conservation of 30% of all land in the United States by 2030, (an area totaling nine states of Nebraska or two states of Texas)
AND Whereas no transparent plan to achieve this goal has been presented by the Department of the Interior, USDA, or the Office of the President of the United States,
AND Whereas previous voluntary conservation plans have historically been temporary and renewable and have only achieved 12% of land placed in conservation since 1985,
AND Whereas new Conservation Reserve Program contracts have been reported to include lands placed in conservation in perpetuity and reevaluation and reinstatement of previously disregarded, agriculturally disadvantageous, reexamination of regulations such as the Waters of the United States has been ordered by the Executive, the Nebraska Sorghum Producers Association hereby resolves to oppose:”
- Any policy or contract which places land in perpetual conservation as a violation of private property ownership and freedoms
- Farm payments dependent upon mandatory conservation practices as prescribed by Executive Branch Agencies
- The reinstatement of the harmful Waters of the United States policy which was widely shown to be an abusive overreach of federal control of non-navigable bodies of water such as wetlands, ditches, landlocked lakes, and irrigation ponds under the Clean Water Act of 1972 by defining said bodies of water as navigable despite the inability of said bodies of water to support shipping or navigation by boat to rivers and oceans
- Any attempt to leverage control of privately held lands under the auspices of Executive Branch agency policy or Executive Order not voted on and approved by Congress to include policies directed by the EPA, USDA, IRS, and Department of Interior
— Nebraska Sorghum Producers Association
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