At a time when U.S. agriculture is achieving historic sustainability milestones, the industry is still being cast as a climate change villain. Amanda Zaluckyj, attorney and ag advocate behind The Farmer's Daughter USA, asks a question many in the industry have long pondered: Why is agriculture always the scapegoat in climate debates?

From fertilizer emissions to livestock methane, agriculture is regularly spotlighted in public climate discourse. But, as Zaluckyj and others argue, the scrutiny is often disproportionate, misleading, and politically driven - and it fails to account for both context and progress.

Take the Environmental Working Group (EWG)'s recent report blaming continuous corn fertilization for high nitrous oxide emissions. EWG suggests adopting "regenerative" practices to cut emissions equivalent to removing 850,000 cars from the road. The problem?

Continuous corn makes up a small minority of U.S. acreage - about 15 million acres versus 220 million planted to more environmentally balanced rotations like corn/soybeans/wheat.

Moreover, the idea that farmers recklessly apply fertilizer is increasingly outdated. With fertilizer prices soaring, most growers are already minimizing use and adopting best management practices to reduce waste and environmental impact. Corn also has a biological limit to how much nitrogen it can absorb - excess use simply doesn't pay.

And yet, in the same climate conversation, transportation, the sector responsible for 28% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions - nearly triple that of agriculture - escapes similar scrutiny.

"Why aren't automakers being told to reduce emissions equivalent to 850,000 cars off the road?" Zaluckyj asks.

The criticism doesn't stop there. Precision agriculture - one of the most impactful tools for reducing ag-related emissions - has also come under fire. The HEAL Food Alliance claims precision tech, including GPS systems, soil sensors, and drones, mainly serves agribusiness profits and offers little in environmental benefit.

That assertion flies in the face of decades of documented results. Precision ag has helped farmers cut fertilizer and pesticide use, conserve fuel, and boost yields - all while protecting soil health and biodiversity. These tools are not limited to "Big Ag," either; many small-scale producers rely on them to stay competitive and sustainable.

"Tell me you don't understand economies of scale and farm efficiency without telling me," Zaluckyj quips in response to HEAL's push for smaller, organic-only systems.

Meanwhile, animal agriculture continues to be a prime target in climate narratives. Groups like Sentient Media argue for more aggressive reporting against meat and dairy, despite power generation being the largest global source of emissions, according to the United Nations.

Zaluckyj's frustration echoes that of many U.S. producers:

"People can live without a new smartphone or fast fashion, but not without breakfast, lunch, and dinner."

The reality is that farming - especially in the U.S. - has never been more data-driven, efficient, and environmentally conscious. The adoption of conservation tillage, cover crops, integrated pest management, and technology-driven input reduction has made American agriculture a global leader in sustainable production.

Still, it remains an easy target - politically and ideologically. Farmers, after all, can't offshore their operations or hide behind consumer brands. They grow the food, and they're visible.

At a time when misinformation swirls and policy debates intensify, Zaluckyj calls for more balanced, informed conversations about agriculture's role in climate solutions.

"Farmers have upped their game. Maybe it's time the critics did, too."