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United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program. Purpose
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United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
Purpose The purpose of the FRPP – to purchase conservation easements for the purpose of protecting working agricultural lands and prime soils by limiting nonagricultural uses of the land.
Entity Eligibility Who is eligible? The 2002 Farm Bill expanded entity eligibility to include not only: • State or Local Governments, and • Federally Recognized Indian Tribes, But also: • Non-Governmental Organizations (i.e. Land Trusts and Conservation Districts)
Eligible Land • To be eligible, farms or ranches must be privately owned and contain: • at least 50% of prime or statewide important soils, OR a historical or archaeological resource. • 50% or less forested acreage • Subject to a pending offer.
Past Funding Levels • FY 2004- NC rec’d $2.3 million • FY 2005-NC rec’d $3.5 million • FY 2006-NC rec’d $1.7 million • FY 2007-NC rec’d $1.5 million • FY 2008 - ???????
The Request for Proposals (RFP) • NRCS uses the public notice process to request FRPP applications. Notice is typically placed in the Federal Register in late winter to early spring. • Although NRCS has the authority to acquire other interests in land, the RFP will seek to fund only perpetual conservation easements.
Funding • Under FRPP, NRCS may provide up to 50% of the appraised fair market value, entities are required to supplement the NRCS share of the cost of the conservation easement. • Landowner donations up to 25% of the appraised fair market value of the conservation easement may be considered part of the entity’s matching offer. • The entity must provide in cash at least 25% of the appraised fair market value or 50% of the purchase price in cash.
The Application Process • From the time the RFP is published, entities have 45 to 60 days to submit proposals. • The NRCS State Office has 30 days to rank and evaluate proposals.
Looking Ahead • FRPP authorization expired Sept. 2007 • FRPP needs to be re-authorized in the 2007 Farm Bill • Expect that to happen with some changes, hopefully minor • Funding level expected at or a little above previous thresholds • Program announcement for 2008 - ????
