Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) Under the 2008 Farm Bill

Last Modified: 01/28/2010

The Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program (FRPP) provides matching funds to help purchase development rights to keep productive farm and ranch land in agricultural uses.  USDA provides funds to State, Tribal, or local governments and non-governmental organizations (eligible entities) to acquire conservation easements or other interests in land from landowners.  USDA provides up to 50 percent of the appraised fair market value of the conservation easement.  The eligible entities must provide at least half of the appraised fair market value of the conservation easement.

To qualify, the land must have fifty percent prime, unique, or important farmland soils; have a historic or archeological resource; or have land that supports the policy of a State or local farm and ranch land protection program. 

The land must also: be part of a pending offer from a State, tribe, or local farmland protection program; be privately owned; have a conservation plan for highly erodible land; be large enough to sustain agricultural production; be accessible to markets for what the land produces; have adequate infrastructure and agricultural support services; and have surrounding parcels of land that can support long-term agricultural production.

Landowners must meet eligibility requirements for adjusted gross income and compliance with the highly erodible land and wetland conservation provisions of the Farm Bill.

Proposals must be submitted by the eligible entities to the appropriate NRCS State Office on a continuous basis throughout the year.  The individual farms and ranches are evaluated and ranked individually on a predetermined date and funds are obligated to the eligible entities associated with the highest ranked farms and ranches in a cooperative agreement.

The documents found on this website provide eligibility criteria, how to complete applications, along with other valuable information for conservation entities wishing to participate in the program.  The eligibility requirements for the 2009 - 2010 program year have changed  from previous years.  Interested applicants are encouraged to review the eligibility requirements carefully for a more thorough explanation of FRPP Rules to insure the subject property and cooperating entity is eligible for receiving FRPP funds.

2008 Farm Bill FRPP Information:

2008 Farm Bill Documents

Articles:
Connecticut River Farm Protected
Protect Land - "They Ain't Making it Anymore"

For a list of Frequently Asked Questions along with other National FRPP information, please visit the National FRPP Website.

For answers to any questions about the NH FRPP Program, contact Jody Walker, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs at 603-868-7581

The Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program is featured in the publication from The NH Coalition for Sustaining Agriculture and UNH Cooperative Extension entitled Conserving the Family Farm. This manual uses plain language to help families make decisions regarding easements, explains provisions for agricultural uses within easements, and recommends how to put easement deals together.