NRCS Provides $2.8 Million to Protect Maryland Farmland

Maryland Media Liaison:

Carol Hollingsworth, 443-482-2902

Annapolis, MD --- March 29, 2007—“Maryland conservation partners and land preservation groups have until April 27, 2007 to apply for $2,821,176 in conservation funds through the 2002 Farm Bill’s Farm and Ranchland Protection Program”, said Mark Rose, Maryland Assistant State Conservationist for Programs for the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

"This program helps communities preserve open space, wildlife habitat and cultural resources,” said USDA Secretary Mike Johanns when announcing a nationwide total of more than $69 million to protect agricultural land in 50 states and Puerto Rico. "This is an excellent way to keep prime farmland in agriculture, and, at the same, keep farming communities viable by relieving development pressure."

NRCS 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. The NRCS Maryland State Office must receive proposals by 4:30 p.m. EDT on April 27, 2007. Proposals should be sent to NRCS, Attn: Mark Rose, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, 339 Busch’s Frontage Road, Suite 301, Annapolis, Maryland 21409. NRCS is expected to announce final project selections in June.

Instructions for project proposals are available on the federal grants website at Grants.gov and at www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/frpp.

Maryland NRCS leads the nation in providing federal funding for farmland preservation. Over the past four years, NRCS has used FRPP funds to provide Maryland farmers with more than $22 million to protect over 20,000 acres of agricultural land through agreements with 26 conservation groups or land trust partners. FRPP protects productive agricultural land by purchasing conservation easements to limit conversion of farm and ranch lands to non-agricultural uses. Using existing programs, NRCS partners with State, tribal or local governments and non-government organizations to acquire conservation easements or other interests in land from landowners. NRCS provides up to 50 percent of the appraised fair market value of the conservation easement in this voluntary program. State and local entities can match that amount, including the use of landowner donations.

The eligible farm or ranch 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;
• be covered by a conservation plan;
• be large enough to sustain agricultural production;
• be accessible to markets for what the land produces; and
• be surrounded by parcels of land that can support long-term agricultural production.

To participate in FRPP, landowners agree to limit the use of their land for nonagricultural purposes and to develop and implement a conservation plan. For more information on FRPP and other conservation programs, visit www.md.nrcs.usda.gov/programs.