USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama has announced the 2023 Inflation Reduction Act funding through the Agricultural Conservation Easements Program (ACEP). This includes both the Agricultural Land (ALE) and Wetland Reserve (WRE) easement sign-up. The deadline is March 17th for farmers, ranchers and private landowners to apply for financial and technical assistance.
“NRCS works hard to help eligible farmers, ranchers and private landowners plan and carry out conservation practices that can benefit all of Alabama’s residents by providing clean air and water, healthy and productive forests, and healthy soils. ACEP-WRE provides crucial funding to help producers carry out these practices on their agricultural land,” said Ben Malone, State Conservationist for Alabama.”
The two ACEP-WRE priority areas identify regions with soils high in organic carbon. These soils have a high nutrient content and available water capacity, the highest soil carbon sequestration potential, and are a priority for wetland restoration as a climate strategy for greenhouse gas mitigation. The FY 2023 IRA statute prioritizes land that will most reduce, capture, avoid, or sequester carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide emissions associated with land eligible for the program. The restoration of the natural hydrology to keep the soils saturated and anaerobic.
ACEP-ALE priority areas -grassland and agricultural use. The IRA ACEP-ALE priority area was determined for FY 2023 based on the NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife framework for the grasslands biome.
NRCS accepts ACEP applications throughout the year but makes funding selections at specific times during the fiscal year. This specific funding application deadline is March 17, 2023. To learn more, visit NRCS at your local USDA Service Center.