The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance and the Power of Big Environmental Groups
In South Dakota, ranchers like Charles and Heather Maude are the lifeblood of rural communities. For decades, they’ve grazed cattle on public lands—lands that have been managed and used by families like theirs for generations. Yet now, these ranchers face legal action over 50 acres of land they’ve used for more than 60 years.
While this battle rages on in the courts, the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA) a powerful coalition of major agricultural and environmental groups—continues to push climate policies that disproportionately benefit large corporations while undermining family-run ranches. And behind FACA’s recommendations and the push for “climate-smart” agriculture, we find powerful organizations like The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), who, despite receiving millions in government grants, often leave the Maudes and others like them behind.
The Rise of FACA and Its Impact on Family Ranches
FACA was established as a collaboration between some of the nation’s most influential organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, The Nature Conservancy, and Environmental Defense Fund. On the surface, it appears to be a noble initiative aimed at addressing climate change while ensuring that farmers and ranchers can adapt to new, sustainable agricultural practices.
However, the reality is more complex. As these groups promote government-backed conservation programs, carbon markets, and sustainability certifications, they inadvertently raise the stakes for small ranchers and farmers. These initiatives often favor large-scale operations with the financial and technical resources to comply with complex environmental requirements, leaving family ranchers—who lack access to such capital—at a severe disadvantage.
Take the Maude’s case: a small family ranch is now under legal threat for grazing cattle on land they’ve used for over six decades, simply because new policies and climate initiatives are pushing them out. This is not an isolated case. Across the country, ranchers are finding their traditional practices restricted, their land access diminished, and their livelihoods jeopardized by ill-considered—policies backed by FACA and similar organizations.
Billions in Taxpayer Dollars Working Against Us
What makes this even more troubling is that billions of taxpayer dollars—including yours and mine—are being used to fund these initiatives. Government grants to large environmental NGOs like The Nature Conservancy and Environmental Defense Fund, along with funding for FACA-aligned pilot programs and climate-smart agriculture schemes, are being funneled into efforts that ultimately drive family-run ranchers out of business.
- The Nature Conservancy received over $300 million in government grants in 2022 alone.
- The Environmental Defense Fund received over $60 million in taxpayer funding between 2017 and 2022.
These taxpayer-funded policies often restrict access to grazing lands, promote costly certifications and practices, and transfer power away from local producers to distant boardrooms and bureaucracies. This isn’t just about climate policy—it’s about control.
And rural America is paying the price.
The Role of Big Environmental Groups
The Nature Conservancy and EDF are not just nonprofit conservation groups—they are multimillion-dollar organizations with vast land holdings, legal departments, and lobbying power in Washington.
- The Nature Conservancy owns or holds conservation easements on more than 4 million acres in the U.S.
- These groups use their influence to promote programs like carbon credit markets that benefit corporate investors while undermining working ranchlands.
Their approach may work for multinational corporations or well-funded operations—but it doesn’t work for the Maudes. And it doesn’t work for the hundreds of ranching families across South Dakota who want to continue doing what they’ve done for generations: raise cattle, care for the land, and feed our communities.
Political Influence and the USDA’s Role
Why does the USDA listen to these groups? Because they’ve positioned themselves as the voice of “modern agriculture” and “climate action.” With seats at the policy table and deep pockets for lobbying, their recommendations become federal programs. Unfortunately, those programs tend to reward scale over stewardship and profits over practicality.
FACA regularly meets with USDA leadership and has directly shaped the agency’s priorities on “climate-smart ag programs.” These programs funnel funding to large-scale climate pilots—many of them led by FACA members or their affiliates.
Family ranchers are being regulated out of the markets they built. They’re being priced out of the land their grandparents grazed. And worst of all, they’re being left behind in the name of “progress.”
A Call to Action: Reconsider Membership and Demand Accountability
Producers need to take a hard look at the organizations behind FACA.
- American Farm Bureau Federation (co-chair and founding member)
- American Seed Trade Association
- American Sugar Alliance
- Association of Equipment Manufacturers
- Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities
- Biotechnology Innovation Organization
- Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau
- CropLife America
- Ducks Unlimited
- Environmental Defense Fund (co-chair and founding member)
- Farm Credit Council
- Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund
- FMI – The Food Industry Association (founding member)
- International Fresh Produce Association
- National Alliance of Forest Owners (founding member)
- National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (founding member)
- National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
- National Corn Growers Association
- National Cotton Council
- National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (co-chair and founding member)
- National Farmers Union (co-chair and founding member)
- National Milk Producers Federation
- The Nature Conservancy (founding member)
Many of these groups claim to represent rural interests, but their actions suggest otherwise. If your membership dues are going to organizations that are part of this alliance—ask yourself:
Are they truly advocating for your way of life?
If not, it may be time to withdraw your support.
And beyond individual memberships, it’s time for a serious action in Washington. Congress and President Trump must immediately freeze all taxpayer-funded grants to environmental NGOs—especially those involved in FACA—until a full and transparent review can be conducted. We cannot keep funding organizations that are actively reshaping rural America in a way that excludes the very people who built it. This is not just about fairness—it’s about survival.
The Path Forward
This is a call to return balance and common sense to agricultural policy. Real sustainability doesn’t mean pushing families off the land—it means empowering them to stay.
We must create policies that respect the knowledge of producers, reward good stewardship, and recognize the difference between a boardroom and a branding iron. If we’re going to talk about saving the planet, let’s start by saving the ranchers who’ve been taking care of it all along.
If you don’t believe me, I’ve included links so you can see for yourself.
Sources:
1. FACA Founding Members and Partners
2. The Nature Conservancy IRS Form 990, 2022
3. OpenTheBooks Report: EDF Government Funding
4. The Nature Conservancy Land Holdings
5. USDA Climate-Smart Ag Partnerships
6. https://agclimatealliance.com/…/farm-bill…
7. https://www.usaspending.gov/search/
