USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service Acting State Conservationist Gary Smith this week announced the availability of nearly $2.7 million to protect agricultural land in Pennsylvania through the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program.

Proposals are due May 11.

"Preserving Pennsylvania’s prime agricultural farm lands helps to ensure a vibrant future for American agriculture," said Smith. "Once protected by conservation easements, this land will be shielded from development pressure and continue to support our safe and abundant food supply."

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service is seeking proposals from state, federally recognized tribal and local governments and non-governmental organizations interested in working together to acquire conservation easements on farms and ranches. NRCS is expected to announce final project selections in June.

Since the program's inception in 1996, more than 22,000 acres of farm land have been funded for protection in Pennsylvania. FRPP protects productive agricultural land by purchasing conservation easements to limit conversion of farm and ranch lands to non-agricultural uses.

Using existing programs, USDA partners with State, tribal, or local governments and non-government organizations to acquire conservation easements or other interests in land from landowners.

In this voluntary program, USDA provides up to 50 percent of the appraised fair market value of the conservation easement and State and local entities can match that amount, including the use of landowner donations.

The eligible farm must have the following components: contain productive soils or historic or archaeological sites; be part of a pending offer from a non-governmental organization, state, tribe or local farmland protection program; be privately owned;

covered by a conservation plan; large enough to sustain agricultural production;

accessible to markets for what the land produces; and surrounded by parcels of land that can support long-term agricultural production.

For more information, visit the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program webpage.

4/21/2006