Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP)

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Sign-up Announced for FY-2009 Oklahoma Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program

The  following Announcement for Program Funding provides all the information needed to submit a proposal for FRPP funding in Oklahoma for 2009.  The FRPP application process is continuous.  The first proposal and parcel evaluation period for 2009 funding will occur after June 12, 2009. Only proposals received in the Oklahoma NRCS State Office by close of business on June 12, 2009, will be considered in the initial ranking and funding period for 2009.

Announcement of Program Funding (PDF; 137 KB)

FRPP Interim Final Rule (PDF; 104 KB) - January 16, 2009

NRCS-CPA-1200 (DOC; 81 KB) - NEW - This draft application form will need to be completed by each landowner on any parcels included in the FRPP proposal submitted for consideration for FY-2009 funding; in addition to information requested in the Announcement for Program Funding.

Program Information

The Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) is a voluntary program that helps landowners keep their land in agriculture. The program provides matching funds to state, local, or tribal government entities and nongovernmental organizations with existing farm and ranch lands protection programs to purchase conservation easements. Participating landowners choose to keep their land in agriculture and agree not to convert the land for nonagricultural use. Landowners retain all rights to use the property for agriculture. A conservation easement deed outlining the restrictions and terms of use on the land will be filed on all FRPP enrollmetns. All lands enrolled must have a conservation plan developed based on the standards in the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide. The goal of the program is to protect between 170,000 and 340,000 acres of agricultural land (including farmland, ranch land and private forestland). The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has been designated as the lead agency in implementing this program.

FRPP At A Glance (PDF; 41 KB) Program Fact Sheet

Eligibility

To qualify for FRPP, the land offered must be privately owned land meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Contain 50% or more prime, unique, or locally important designated soils;
• Contain historical or archeological resources;
• Further a state or local policy consistent with the purposes of the program.

If the land cannot be converted to nonagricultural uses because of existing deed restrictions or other legal constraints, it is ineligible for FRPP.

For 2009, the NRCS State Conservationist has included the grassland areas of the Tallgrass Prairie region in northeastern Oklahoma for participation in FRPP, due to the importance and significance of that ecosystem and the threat to loss of the grasslands from conversion and fragmentation.

Oklahoma Important Grasslands Map Delineation for Eligibility for 2009 (PDF; 355 KB)

Ranking Criteria

FRPP applications are ranked using a set of national ranking criteria with state and local criteria added as needed.  Each NRCS State Conservationist establishes the weight to be given to each national factors and establishes any state ranking criteria to be utilized.

Oklahoma FRPP Ranking and Evaluation Criteria 2009 (PDF; 16 KB)

Oklahoma Reference Data (Census and Agcensus) for 2009 FRPP Ranking (PDF; 18 KB)

National Ranking Factors for 2009

FRPP Accomplishments - Oklahoma

FRPP 2006 Progress Report (PDF; 97.2 KB)

Additional progress reports for all Oklahoma programs for can be obtained at  http://www.ok.nrcs.usda.gov/news/OKPublications/index.html

Additional Information

NRCS National FRPP Website - Provides fact sheets and other basic program information.  Some material on this site has not been updated to the program rules under the Food Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill).

NRCS State Office Contact

Suzanne Collier
Resource Conservationist
Phone: 405-742-1234
Email: Suzanne Collier

Last Reviewed/Modified: 05/12/2009

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