Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
Department Of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service
To provide funding to eligible entities to purchase conservation easements to limit conversion to non-agricultural uses of farm and ranch lands that contain prime, unique, or important soils; that contain historical and archaeological resources; or that support the policy of a state or local farmland protection program.
Jargon-free version
Helps farmers and ranchers protect their land from being used for non-agricultural purposes. Provides funding to buy conservation easements that keep land in agricultural use.
Quick Facts
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What Is This Program?
What Benefits Are Offered?
Financial assistance, cost-share assistance, and technical assistance (resource assessment, practice design, monitoring) for landowners and organizations to implement conservation practices, restore wetlands, and protect agricultural lands and forestland through voluntary easements. Significant national funding is available through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Farm Bill.
Who Is Eligible?
Industries: agriculture, forestry, conservation
Region: United States (state-level criteria apply)
Demographics: Indian tribes
Other Criteria: Landowners who want to maintain or enhance their land in a way beneficial to agriculture and/or the environment, Agricultural producers, Non-industrial forest managers, Indian tribes, state and local governments, and non-governmental organizations (for Agricultural Land Easements component of ACEP), Must own or lease the land to be conserved, Must establish a farm tract number with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (for financial assistance), Must certify compliance with Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) limitations, Must certify compliance with Highly Erodible Land (HEL) and Wetland Conservation (WC) requirements (Form AD-1026), Provide an official tax ID (Social Security number or Employer ID), Provide a property deed or lease agreement
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📋What Are the Application Steps & Timeline?
- 📝Steps to Apply
- Make a Plan
- Start an Application
- Check your eligibility
- Rank your application
- Implement your plan
- 🌐Application Portal
- https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/getting-assistance/how-to-apply
- 📤Submission Method
- online
- 📅Key Dates
- varies by stateApplication Ranking Dates
- 🔄Intake Type
- continuous
📄What Documents Are Required?
- ✅Required Documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- SF-424A (Budget Information - Non-Construction)
- SF-424B (Assurances)
- Project Narrative
- Budget Narrative
- indirect cost rate agreement
- IRB approval letter
- environmental review
- 📐Format Requirements
- PDF only, max 10MB
- 📥Templates Available
- Agricultural Land Easement (ALE) Agreement
- ✉️Supporting Letters
- Letters of support/reference are required to substantiate the application.
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💰What Expenses Are Eligible?
- 🧾Eligible Expenses
- Costs associated with acquiring agricultural land easements
- Monitoring and managing easements
- 🚫Ineligible Expenses
- Costs incurred before contract execution
- Costs not directly related to easement acquisition
- 💳Payment Model
- reimbursement
- ⏪Retroactive Expenses Eligible
- No
🤝Is Matching Funding Required?
- 🔀Matching Required
- Yes
- 📊Matching Ratio
- 25% minimum
- 🏦Eligible Matching Sources
- cash
- in-kind
- 📚Stacking Rules
- Yes
- 🛡️Proof of Matching Required
- Documentation to substantiate this may be required
📊What Are the Reporting Requirements?
- 🗓️Reporting Frequency
- annual
- 📑Reporting Requirements
- performance progress report
- 🔍Audit Requirements
- OMB Uniform Guidance Single Audit if the recipient expends $750,000 or more in federal awards in a fiscal year
- 📢Branding Requirements
- Acknowledgment of federal funding is required
- 🗄️Record Retention Period
- 3 years post-final-report
How Do I Apply?
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FAQFrequently Asked Questions
Visit the program page for detailed eligibility requirements.
This program offers funding up to $2,992,000 (minimum $1,032,000).
This program accepts applications on a rolling basis.
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