Rollins Challenges California Agricultural Land Proposal

A hot topic issue here in the state of California is hitting some hot buttons for Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. In a letter sent to Governor Newsom, Secretary Rollins demands California abandon a proposal that she says would redistribute agricultural land based on race, ethnicity, and national origin.

According to the USDA, this letter comes as the California Land Equity Task Force considers a draft proposal that would encourage and facilitate land transfers and financial assistance exclusively to certain minorities. In background provided by the USDA, they state that In 2022, the California State Legislature established the California Agricultural Land Equity Task Force to develop recommendations for the State Legislature and Governor Newsom on how to “equitably” increase access to minority farmers and tribes.

Currently, the Task Force is reviewing a draft report that is due back to the legislature by January 1, 2026. For a link back to Secretary Rollins' letter as well as the draft report as made available by the USDA, visit https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/12/11/secretary-rollins-sends-letter-challenging-californias-proposed-redistribution-ag-land