USDA Provides More Than $70 Million to Protect Farm and Ranch Lands

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns recently announced the availability of more than $70 million to protect agricultural land in 50 states and Puerto Rico through the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2006.

"Preserving the nation's prime agricultural farm and ranch lands helps to ensure a vibrant future for American agriculture," said Johanns. "Once protected by conservation easements, this land will be shielded from development pressure and continue to support our safe and abundant food supply."

UDSA's NRCS is seeking proposals from state, federally-recognized tribal and local governments and non-governmental organizations interested in working together to acquire conservation easements on farms and ranches. NRCS state offices must receive proposals by 5:00 p.m. EDT on May 11, 2006. NRCS is expected to announce final project selections in June.

Since the program's inception in 1996, more than 277,811 acres of farm and ranch lands have been protected in 43 states. FRPP protects productive agricultural land by purchasing conservation easements to limit conversion of farm and ranch lands to non-agricultural uses.

"Kansas non-governmental organizations have secured easements on 5,512 acres in the FRPP," said Harold Klaege, Kansas NRCS State Conservationist. "These conservation easements are protecting soils of statewide importance in the Flint Hills region of Kansas."

Using existing programs, USDA partners work with state, tribal, or local governments and non-government organizations to acquire conservation easements or other interests in land from landowners. USDA provides up to 50 percent of the apprised fair market value of the conservation easement in this voluntary program. State and local entities can match that amount, including the use of landowner donation.

The eligible farm or ranch must have the following components:

• contain productive soils or historic or archaeological sites;
• be part of a pending offer from a non-governmental organization, state, tribe or local farmland protection program;
• be privately owned;
• be covered by a conservation plan
• be large enough to sustain agricultural production
• be accessible to markets for what the land produces;
• and be surrounded by parcels of land that can support long-term agricultural production.

Below are FRPP allocations for fiscal year 2006 by state:

Additional Information

• Grants.gov
• National NRCS FRPP Information

Last Modified: 04/28/2006