The Biden administration recently released a report providing more details on how it plans to meet its earlier goal to conserve at least 30% of the nation’s lands and waters by 2030. Entitled “America the Beautiful,” the 22-page document outlines principles that should guide those efforts, several of which pertain to agriculture. More specifically, it indicates that conservation work should recognize and support farmers’ contributions to environmental stewardship as well as include them in conversations about how best to protect our natural resources.

Because farmers and ranchers steward about 44% of the United States’ landmass, National Farmers Union (NFU) maintains that it absolutely essential that that agriculture is incorporated into broader conservation endeavors. In a statement, the organization’s president Rob Larew said he was pleased that the administration’s report takes the sector’s important role into account and that he looks forward to working with them to develop the principles into a fully fleshed-out plan.

“Farmers Union members care deeply about protecting the natural resources that support their livelihoods. When the administration first announced its plans to conserve 30% of the nation’s land, however, we had a lot of questions about what that might mean for agriculture. After sharing those concerns with the administration, we are heartened that our feedback was taken seriously and incorporated into the final principles.

“The report understands the valuable work that family farmers are already doing to improve soil, water and air quality and commits to advancing that work in the future. We are glad to have clarity on the matter and look forward to continued collaboration with the administration to ensure these principles are followed.”