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Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP)
The Farm and Ranch Lands Protection
Program (FRPP) provides matching funds to help
purchase development rights to keep productive farm and ranchland in agricultural uses. Working through existing
programs, USDA partners with State, tribal, or
local governments and non-governmental organizations to acquire conservation easements or other interests in land
from landowners. USDA provides up to 50 percent
of the fair market easement value. A 25% or greater match must come from an entity other than the landowner in
order to be eligible for the program. Further requirements for FRPP eligibility are listed below.
Eligible Farmland
To qualify, farmland must:
- Be privately owned
- Be included in a pending offer from a State, Tribal, or local government or non-governmental organization’s farmland protection program
- Qualifying entity or individual does not exceed the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) limitation
- Contain at least 50% of some combination of prime, statewide, unique or other productive farm land, or include important historical or archaeological resources
- Be in conservation compliance
- Be covered by a conservation plan for any highly erodible land that addresses the long term viability of the farm
- Be large enough to sustain agricultural production and be surrounded by parcels of land that can support long-term agricultural production
- Be accessible to markets for what the land produces
- Be part of a systematically protected area
- Have access to adequate infrastructure and agricultural support services
Who can participate?
Any agency of State or local government, a Federally recognized Indian Tribe, or a qualifying non-government
organization can participate. A qualifying program utilizes voluntary easements or other legal devices to protect
productive farmland.
2009 Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program Information
Authorization for FRPP under the 2002 Farm Bill
has been extended. Sign-up periods for 2008 have not been determined and applications are not being processed at this
time.
Additional Information
Program Contact
Craig Ellis
Assistant State Conservationist (Programs)
(615) 277-2567
Curt McDaniel
Resource Conservationist -- FRPP Coordinator
(615) 277-2597
Learn more about the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program from the
national FRPP web page
and get more information about grants from the
grants page.
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