Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest plan to redistribute California’s farmland is raising eyebrows. The California Agricultural Land Equity Task Force, nestled under his Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, is pushing policies that sound like reparations dressed up as “agricultural equity,” as the Washington Free Beacon reports. Conservatives see this as another progressive overreach, slicing up private property to score political points.
For over two years, this task force has been crafting recommendations to “equitably increase agricultural land access,” with a final report due to Newsom and the legislature by late 2025. A draft report, released before the group’s August meeting, lays out a bold vision. It proposes transferring state-owned land and offering financial perks to non-white farmers, particularly Native Americans and black farmers.
The task force, created by the California Strategic Growth Council, began its work nearly two years ago. It has held over a dozen public meetings, including one on Aug. 13, to gather input from activists. These sessions have fueled calls for aggressive measures, such as a pilot program to help Black farmers access land.
The draft report doesn’t mince words, claiming California’s farmland wealth stems from “stolen land” and exploited labor. “The wealth of the U.S., including that of its agriculture industry, has been built on stolen land,” the report states. This rhetoric frames land redistribution as justice, but critics argue it’s a slippery slope toward undermining property rights.
Specifically, the report pushes for gifting large swaths of state-owned land to Native American tribes. It cites European colonization as justification, claiming tens of thousands of acres should be returned. Such moves, conservatives warn, risk destabilizing California’s agricultural backbone without clear economic benefits.
The task force also advocates for low-interest loans, grants, and down payment assistance for Black farmers. “Centuries of discrimination have taken both land and generational wealth,” the report declares. While historical wrongs are undeniable, skeptics question whether funneling benefits based on race is the fairest fix.
The report defines “priority producers” as African Americans, Native Indians, Hispanics, Asian Americans, and others, noting that 82% of California’s private farmland is white-owned. This statistic is used to argue for an “agricultural land equity crisis.” But prioritizing race over merit, critics say, could deepen divisions rather than heal them.
Activists such as Rasheed Hislop of the Community Alliance with Family Farmers back the plan, saying Black farmers face systemic barriers. “Black farmers aren’t asking for handouts, they need hand-ups,” Hislop insists. Yet, conservatives argue that race-neutral aid programs could help struggling farmers without stoking resentment.
The task force also wants to adopt indigenous knowledge for land management. While cultural respect is noble, critics question its practicality in modern farming. Traditional practices may clash with the efficiency needed to feed California’s millions.
The Biden administration’s $5 billion loan forgiveness for non-white farmers, tied up in courts, and $2 billion in payments for alleged USDA discrimination set what critics say is a troubling federal precedent. These moves suggest a broader push on the part of some to reshape agriculture along racial lines. California’s task force seems eager to follow suit, but without the cash payments.
Newsom, who in March criticized woke excesses like the term “Latinx,” appears to embrace this DEI-driven agenda. His task force’s focus on racial redistribution feels like a contradiction, conservatives note. It’s hard to square his anti-woke rhetoric with policies that prioritize race over results.
Adam X, CEO of Original Manufacturing, pushed for a “restorative land access pilot” at the August meeting. His call for bold action reflects activist pressure on the task force. But such pilots, skeptics argue, risk becoming bureaucratic boondoggles with little real-world impact.
The task force’s draft report frames its recommendations as reparations for historical injustices. “Centuries of discrimination have taken both land and generational wealth from priority producers,” it claims. Critics counter that redistributing land based on past wrongs could erode trust in property rights, a cornerstone of economic stability.
A spokeswoman for Newsom’s office clarified, “The views and recommendations expressed in the draft report are those of the California Agricultural Land Equity Task Force and do not reflect an endorsement by the Governor’s Office.” This distancing suggests Newsom may be wary of the political fallout. Still, his administration’s support for the task force speaks louder than disclaimers.
As the task force prepares its final report, California’s farmers brace for change. The push for racial equity in land ownership is framed as justice, but conservatives see it as divisive overreach. With property rights and economic stability at stake, this plan could reshape the state’s agricultural landscape -- or spark a backlash.
