Deadline Near for Farmland Protection

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is requesting proposals for the Farmland Protection Program from federally recognized Indian tribes, states, units of local government or nongovernmental organizations to cooperate in the acquisition of conservation easements on farms and ranches. This is a voluntary program, reauthorized in the 2002 Farm Bill, that helps farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture.  Eligible land includes farm and ranch land that has prime, unique or other productive soil or that contains historical or archaeological resources. These lands also must be subject to a pending offer from eligible entities for the purpose of protecting topsoil by limiting conversion of that land to nonagricultural uses.

Proposals must be received in the appropriate NRCS state office by May 19.  Proposals must (1) describe the eligible entity’s farmland protection program and record of acquiring and holding permanent agricultural land protection easement or other interests, and (2) describe the lands to be acquired with assistance from FPP.

Program information can be found at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/2002.