Farm Bill Conservation Programs
Investing more than a billion dollars in a suite of conservation programs each year, the Farm Bill now far exceeds other federal sources of conservation funding. Easement programs like the Farmland Protection Program and Grassland Reserve Program are helping to conserve millions of acres of important landscapes across America.
2008 Farm Bill Includes Billions in new Conservation Funding
On May 22, 2008 Congress enacted a new 5-year Farm Bill. Thanks to the advocacy of hundreds of land trusts and a national coalition of conservation, wildlife, sportsmen's and agricultural organizations, this bill:
- Provides a total of $733 million over 5 years for the Farmland Protection Program
- Re-establishes the Grassland Reserve Program with an acreage goal of 1.22 million acres.
- Extends the tax incentive for conservation easement donations until December 31, 2009
Learn More about Conservation in the 2008 Farm Bill:
- Read our Press Release
- Read Bill Text Related to Land Trust Priorities
- Scroll down for background on these important programs
Land Trust Alliance Develops
Platform on the Reauthorization
of Farm and Ranchland Protection
Program
The Land Trust Alliance is
working with several organizations to increase funding for the Farm and Ranch
Lands Protection Program. Learn more
background information about the program and see our four recommended
changes to the program. (updated 4/11/2007)
Land Trust Alliance Comments on FRPP
Interim Rule
Comments
were submitted on September 25, 2006 to the Natural Resources Conservation
Service regarding changes to the current Farm and Ranch Lands Protection
Program. Land Trust Alliance made several recommendations covering various
topics including real property interest, appraisal standards, impervious
surface requirements, and others. See the comments
here. (updated
12/05/2006)
Resources at the Farmland Information
Center
American Farmland
Trust has a Farmland Information Center
(FIC) Visit the FIC website or call the FIC’s experts at 800-370-4879 to find
the answers to your farming-related questions. 2006 Update:
Based on feedback from visitors, the site has new state pages that bundle key
contacts, statistics, literature, laws, sample documents and legislative briefs
to provide a snapshot of farmland protection activity.
NRCS Conservation
Security Program
The Conservation Security Program
(CSP) is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance
to promote the conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, plant
and animal life, and other conservation purposes on Tribal and private working
lands. CSP is administered by USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS).
Farm Bill 2002: FARMLAND PROTECTION
PROGRAM LEGISLATION
The Farmland Protection Program (FPP) is administered by the Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) and provides matching funds to purchase
conservation easements on working farms and ranches. (posted 4/03)
List
of NRCS State Representatives
From the NRCS Web site, these
are the primary contacts for participation in the Farm and Ranch Lands
Protection Program.
