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NRCS announces March 15 deadline for Farm and Ranch Lands Protection ProgramKansas Eric B. Banks, State Conservationist with U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service announced a March 15 deadline for landowners to apply for the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program. 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 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. If you need more information about FRPP, visit www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/frpp/index.html or contact your local USDA Service Center. Date: 2/25/2013
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