NRCS To Provide $3.1 Million To Protect Pennsylvania Farmland

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service is accepting applications now through June 1 for approximately $3.1 million available to protect Pennsylvania's agricultural land through the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program.

 

"This program helps communities preserve irreplaceable farmland, and at the same time maintains open spaces, wildlife habitat, and cultural resources," said Barry Frantz, NRCS Program Manager. "This is an excellent way to keep prime farmland in agriculture and, at the same time, keep farming communities thriving by reducing land lost to development."

 

FRPP provides matching funds to help eligible entities purchase development rights to keep productive farm and ranchland in agricultural uses. The program is open to state or local governments, Tribes, and non-governmental.

 

Interested landowners need to apply and work with an eligible entity. To be eligible for FRPP, an entity must have an established farm and ranch land protection program; the authority to hold and manage easements; the capacity to acquire, manage, and enforce the easements; and the funds to match the Federal contribution of up to 50 percent of the fair market value of the farm's easement.

 

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

 

Entities must submit their applications to the Pennsylvania NRCS State Office at One Credit Union Place, Suite 340, Harrisburg, PA 17110-2993. The ranking and selection of parcels will take place immediately after June 1.

 

For more information on FRPP and other conservation programs, visit the NRCS Pennsylvania website.