Through partnerships with private landowners, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the protection of more than 5 million acres of wetlands, grasslands, and prime farmland. Since last October, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has enrolled 110,000 acres in new conservation easements, bringing USDA to this conservation milestone. NRCS has offered conservation easements through the Farm Bill for …
ACEP and Public-Private Partnership
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the final rule for its Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). The program enables agricultural producers and private landowners to protect farmlands, grasslands, and wetlands with conservation easements. Jimmy Bramblett, with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), discusses the relationship between landowners and the federal government under ACEP. ACEP’s agricultural land easements (ALE) component assists state and local …
Describing the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the final rule for its Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). The program enables ag producers and private landowners to protect farmlands, grasslands, and wetlands with conservation easements. Jimmy Bramblett, with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), explains the intent of, and components within ACEP. NRCS accepts ACEP applications year-round, but applications are ranked and funded during enrollment periods …
USDA Updates to Conservation Easements Strengthens Protection
Thursday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the final rule for its Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). The program enables agricultural producers and private landowners to protect farmlands, grasslands, and wetlands with conservation easements. The rule updates ACEP as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill and incorporates public comments made on an interim rule. NRCS received more than 570 comments on the ACEP interim rule, which …
Updates to Conservation Easements Strengthens Protection for Farmlands, Grasslands, and Wetlands
(USDA/NRCS) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the final rule for its Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), which enables agricultural producers and private landowners to protect farmlands, grasslands, and wetlands with conservation easements. The rule updates ACEP as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill and incorporates public comments made on an interim rule. “Conservation easements are a critical conservation tool helping landowners …
Conservation Efforts Continue on Florida’s Farms, Ranches Amid Pandemic
(USDA/NRCS/FL) — USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida continued its conservation work across the state despite a year marked with a pandemic and natural disasters. The agency helped farmers, ranchers and forest landowners implement conservation practices to help conserve natural resources and boost their bottom lines. Additionally, NRCS launched new online tools that increased the efficiency, effectiveness and delivery of crucial …
Georgia NRCS Conservation Easements Sign Up Ends March 31
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia reminds landowners that in order to be considered for the fiscal year 2020 funding pool for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), applications must be submitted by March 31, 2020. The ACEP, created through the 2014 Farm Bill and reauthorized in the 2018 Farm Bill, is a program that has two components, known …
Georgia NRCS Conducting Conservation Easements Signup
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia reminds landowners interested in being considered for the fiscal year 2020 funding pool for this year’s Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), applications must be submitted by March 31, 2020. ACEP is a program with two components, Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetlands Reserve Easements (WRE). ACEP-WRE applications are accepted directly from producers on eligible …
Alabama NRCS 2020 Conservation Easements Program Sign-Up
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama wants landowners across the state to know the 2020 Agricultural Conservation Easements Program Wetland Reserve Easement (ACEP-WRE) sign-up deadline is March 23, 2020. This signup is for farmers, ranchers and private landowners to apply for financial and technical assistance. NRCS is encouraging Alabama producers and private landowners to submit their applications as soon as …
Florida Ag Land Conservation Easement Signup Deadline Extended
The deadline for applications to fund agricultural easements in Florida for 2020 has been extended to April 6. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides financial and technical assistance to conserve working lands and wetlands through two programs: Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE). Although applications are accepted on a continuous basis, funding selections are typically made once a year. …