Eric B. Banks, State Conservationist with U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced a March 15, 2013, deadline for landowners to apply for the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP). 

FRPP is a voluntary program that helps farmers preserve their agricultural land.  The program provides matching funds to the following entities: state, tribal, or local governments and non-governmental organizations with existing farmland protection programs.  The funds are used to purchase conservation easements that limit non-agricultural uses of the land.  USDA provides up to 50 percent of the appraised fair market easement value of the conservation easement.

“In 2012, NRCS provided $1,666,462 in matching funds to enroll 6,882 acres in the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program,” said Banks.

Eligible Lands

Eligible land must be privately owned farm or ranch lands; contain at least 50 percent prime, unique, statewide, or locally important farmland soils; have a historical or archaeological resource; or have land that supports the policy of a state or local farm and ranch lands protection program.  The land must also be part of a pending offer by an eligible entity; have cropland, rangeland, grassland, pasture land, or forest land that contributes to the economic viability of an agricultural operation, or serves as a buffer to protect an agricultural operation from development.

Information Available  

If you need more information about FRPP, visit the Kansas NRCS web page at www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/frpp/index.html or contact your local USDA Service Center (listed in the telephone book under United States Government or on the internet at offices.usda.gov).  Follow us on Twitter at @NRCS_Kansas.