Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program Signup Announced

STILLWATER, OK - The Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) administered by the USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is accepting applications for funding on a continuous basis. NRCS State Conservationist Ron Hilliard noted that the 2008 Farm Bill provided for a continuous signup to allow eligible entities more opportunities to sign up eligible parcels. Eligible entities must submit applications on or before June 12, 2009, to receive consideration for funding in fiscal year 2009.

Only eligible entities may submit applications of eligible farm and ranch land. Eligible entities are State, Tribal, or local governments and non-government organizations that meet specific requirements. The entities must have an established farm and ranch land protection program, have the authority to hold and manage easements; have the capacity to acquire, manage, and enforce the easements; and the funds to match the Federal contribution.

The FRPP can provide up to fifty percent of the appraised fair market value of the easement on the farm or ranch. At least fifty percent of the appraised fair market value of the easement must be provided by the eligible entity. Landowners may accept less than the appraised fair market value of the easement; the difference between the appraised value and the purchase price the landowners are willing to accept is considered a landowner donation. The eligible entity must provide a minimum of twenty-five percent of the purchase price in cash. The eligible entity must also secure the appraisal, survey, and title search, prepare the conservation easement deed, and pay for the closing.

Land proposed for funding in FRPP must meet one of three eligibility categories: contain at least fifty percent prime and unique farmland soils and soils of statewide and local importance; contain historic or archeological resources; or contain land that supports the farm and ranch land protection policies of state or local programs.

Owners of the parcels must have an adjusted gross income of less than one million dollars and be in compliance with the USDA highly erodible land and wetland compliance requirements.

Application must be made to the NRCS state office, as per instructions in the Announcement for Program Funding. Each state office of NRCS has application requirements specific to the state. Entities will be evaluated for eligibility. The individual parcels will be evaluated for eligibility and quality; the highest quality parcels for which the NRCS state office has funding will be selected for funding. The ranking and selection of parcels will take place immediately after June 12, 2009, with funding announced soon thereafter. NRCS will obligate funding for the selected parcels in a cooperative agreement with the eligible entities that submitted the selected parcel.

For further information, contact Suzanne Collier, resource conservationist, at (405) 742-1234. NRCS is an equal opportunity provider and employer. All programs and services of the Natural Resources Conservation Service are provided in a nondiscriminatory manner.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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