Farmland Protection Funds Available

Applications due June 1, 2009 for funding consideration

MORGANTOWN, WV, April 1, 2009 —State Conservationist Kevin Wickey, of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), announced today that entities interested in being considered for funding under the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) should submit their applications by June 1, 2009 to NRCS.

"Although we are operating under an interim rule for this and other conservation programs, we need to get the applications in now so we can begin the ranking process." Wickey said. "To be considered for the $2.5 million in funding, applications must be received by the deadline of June 1, 2009," he added. The new Farm Bill provides for a continuous sign up and after all applications are ranked on June 1, 2009, future approvals will be made on a periodic basis.

The FRPP is a voluntary program that helps farmers preserve their agricultural land. The program provides matching funds to the following entities: state, 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 value of the conservation easement in the voluntary program. State and local entities can match that amount, including the use of landowner donations. Eligible land includes private land that contains prime farmland or unique resources and is subject to a pending easement from an eligible entity. The landowner retains ownership and continues to use the land for agricultural purposes. The landowner must have a conservation plan and comply with the terms of the easement.

Landowners interested in protecting their land should contact their local NRCS office, Farmland Protection Board, or other qualified entities. Contact information for NRCS local offices can be found at www.wv.nrcs.usda.gov. Contact information for Farmland Protection Boards and other entities is located at www.wvfarmlandprotection.org.

Nationally between 1996 and 2007, NRCS invested $536 million to protect about 533,000 acres on 2,764 farms and ranches.

"Keeping the nation's farm and ranch lands producing food and fiber is a high priority for USDA," says Wickey. "Protecting this land from development through conservation easements is critical to the farming industry of West Virginia.”

For more information about FRPP, contact your local NRCS office or contact Bill O’Donnell, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, at (304) 284-7543 or bill.odonnell@wv.usda.gov.

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