FRPP Economic Benefits Report

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service's Farm and Ranch lands Protection Program (FRPP) provides funding for the purchase of conservation easements from landowners who wish to sell their development rights, ensuring their land will remain in agricultural production for generations. Over the past 15 years, FRPP has invested over $1 billion in federal funds, leveraged by an equal amount of other private and public funds. The benefits reach far beyond the farm or ranch protected -- FRPP helps support local agricultural markets and suppliers, foster tourism, improve water quality, and conserve land in strategically important areas. This report examines how FRPP has strengthened four communities across the country by protecting farm and ranchlands.

Click here to download the full report

Case Studies

• Colorado's Palisade Fruitlands
• Michigan’s Northwest Lower Peninsula
• Minnesota -- Dakota County
• Wyoming -- Sublette County

Letters from Business Leaders on Benefits of Ag Easements

• Letter from Ken Swanson, CEO of Shoreline Fruit
• Letter from John Pelizzari, COO of Burnette Foods

Take Action

If Congress fails to enact a Farm Bill in December, we could lose $500 million for this innovative and cost-effective program. Here’s how you can help today:

• Visit www.farmbillnow.com to sign a petition or send a custom tweet -- here's a shortcut if you want to reference this report: bit.ly/OLcOqG
• Or just call your representative directly (switchboard: 202-224-3121), ask for his or her ag staffer, urge them to sign the Farm Bill “discharge petition,” and follow-up with a copy of this report.

For more information, please contact western policy manager Lynne Sherrod at lsherrod@lta.org.

Courtesy of John Fielder