Agricultural Conservation Easement Program-Agricultural Land Easements Program Toolkit

The Farm Bill: largest source of federal funding for conservation

The Farm Bill authorizes a number of conservation programs that, taken in total, are the largest single federal source of funding for private land conservation in the United States. Farm Bill programs create significant opportunities for land trusts to protect high-priority farmlands, ranchlands, grasslands, wetlands and forests. The programs provide matching funds to conservation partners, so federal investments go further and are a vital resource for conserving America's farmland and ranchland.

On December 20, 2018, the 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law. The legislation adopted many of the Land Trust Alliance’s highest priorities including funding the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program at $450 million/year, removing the Agriculture Land Easement plan requirement, allowing landowner donations and expenses to satisfy match requirements, granting the Secretary of Agriculture waiver authority from the Adjusted Gross Income limitation, and allowing certified entities to write their own minimum deed terms. View a comparison of the Alliance’s 2018 Farm Bill recommendations and the final bill.

The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program was established in the 2014 Farm Bill and brought together three easement programs: the Wetlands Reserve Program, Grassland Reserve Program and Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program. ACEP provides matching funds to purchase conservation easements to protect farms, ranches and grasslands through the Agricultural Land Easement program. These easements are held by eligible entities. View the Final Rule for ACEP, released February 4, 2021.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service, an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, helps America’s farmers, ranchers and forest landowners conserve the nation’s soil, water, air and other natural resources. NRCS programs are voluntary and offer science-based solutions that benefit both the landowner and the environment.

Under the ACEP-ALE, NRCS provides financial assistance to eligible partners for purchasing conservation easements that protect the agricultural use and conservation values of eligible land. Through the ALE program, NRCS may contribute up to 50% of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement. Where NRCS determines that grasslands of special environmental significance will be protected, NRCS may contribute up to 75% of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement.

Role of the Alliance

The Alliance is both a conduit to NRCS for our members, as well as an advocate for Farm Bill policies that help land trusts and landowners work together to access conservation easement programs. We do this through active engagement with Congress, including key committees such as the House Agricultural Committee and the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. We also lead and engage in coalitions and working groups to identify areas of improvement and refine policy recommendations as part of the annual Farm Bill cycle and subsequent rule-making process.

How ALE works

The Agricultural Land Easement Program provides technical and financial assistance to protect and conserve farmlands, ranchlands, grasslands and wetlands. A part of the conservation title of the 2018 Farm Bill, the ALE program helps farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture. The program also protects grazing uses and related conservation values by conserving grassland, including rangeland, pastureland and shrubland. Under the ALE component of ACEP, NRCS provides matching funds to eligible entities to acquire agricultural conservation easements on working agricultural lands. ALE keeps land available for agriculture and limits non-farm development.