10.931: Agricultural Conservation Easement Program

10.931

Active

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) [USDA]

July 29, 2022

July 29, 2022

To establish an agricultural conservation easement program for the conservation of eligible land and natural resources through easements or other interests in the land. The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) is comprised of two components – Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE). The ACEP-ALE component provides funding to eligible entities to purchase conservation easements to protect the agricultural use and future viability, and related conservation values of eligible land by limiting nonagricultural uses of that land; and to protect grazing uses and related conservation values by restoring or conserving eligible land. The ACEP-WRE component provides funding for the purchase of conservation easements held by NRCS, and to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands on eligible land.

B - Cooperative Agreements

For ACEP-ALE an eligible entity that is an Indian Tribe, State government, local government, or a nongovernmental organization which has a farmland or grassland protection program that purchases agricultural land easements for the purpose of protecting agriculture use and related conservation values, including grazing uses and related conservation values, by limiting conversion to nonagricultural uses of the land, and that has pending offers may apply for funds. This program is available in all 50 States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Mariana Islands, and the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands. Individual landowners must apply through the local agency or organization that handles the farmland or grassland protection program. For ACEP-WRE, private landowners, including individual landowners, partnerships, associations, corporations, estates, trusts, and other business or legal entities, and Indian tribes are eligible to apply. This program is available in all 50 States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Mariana Islands, and the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands.

All landowners applying for ACEP must be in compliance with the Wetland Compliance (WC) and Highly Erodible Land (HEL) provisions of the Farm Bill and, within the exception of FY2014, meet the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) limitations in the Farm Bill. For ACEP-ALE, applications are submitted by an eligible entity who will be the participant in the program. For ACEP-WRE, only private landowners, partnerships, associations, corporations, estates, trusts, other business or legal entities and, Indian tribes may submit applications for easements.

10.904 - Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention

10.069 - Conservation Reserve Program

10.922 - Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP)

10.913 - Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program

10.072 - Wetlands Reserve Program

10.920 - Grassland Reserve Program

https://sam.gov/fal/06614ec5a96d471089aefdbe2eb9d160/view