FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 6, 2009
For More Information Contact: Paige Buck, State Public Affairs Specialist, (217) 353.6606

2009 IL NRCS Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP)

Champaign, IL—The Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP), administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is now accepting applications for funding on a continuous basis. Illinois Natural Resources Conservation Service’s State Conservationist Bill Gradle noted the 2008 Farm Bill now provides for a continuous signup, which allows eligible entities more opportunities to sign up eligible parcels. Eligible entities must submit applications on or before COB May 22, 2009 to receive consideration for funding in fiscal year 2009. Funds must be obligated by July 15, 2009.

According to Bob McLeese, NRCS State FRPP Program Manager, “Applications must come from eligible entities with eligible farm or ranch land. Eligible entities include State, Tribal, or local governments as well as non-government organizations that meet specific requirements.” Entities must have:

- An established farm and ranch land protection program,
- Authority to hold and manage easements,
- Capacity to acquire, manage, and enforce the easements, and
- Funds to match the Federal contribution.

Because the FRPP can provide up to half of the appraised fair market value of the conservation easement, there are numerous criteria for determining the value, productivity, and historical importance of the land. To learn more and determine if both the land and the sponsoring entity meet all criteria, review the application and ranking information posted online at www.il.nrcs.usda.gov/.

“For so many of our communities, farming and agriculture have been key—both to the people and the local economy. If preserving that is important to you and to your local leaders, I’d encourage you to take a look at the FRPP. With an ongoing and continuous sign-up, there’s plenty of time to read up on it, talk to landowners and county government representatives and get a plan in place,” Gradle explains.

At least 50% of the easement’s appraised fair market value must be provided by the applicant. Landowners may accept less than the appraised fair market value of the easement; the difference between the appraised value and the purchase price the landowners are willing to accept is considered a landowner donation.

Eligible entities must provide at least 25% of the purchase price in cash and they must secure the appraisal, survey, and title search, prepare the conservation easement deed, and pay for closing costs. Gradle explains that land proposed for FRPP funding must meet one of three eligibility categories. It must contain:

- at least 50% prime and unique farmland soils and soils of Statewide and local importance;
- historic or archeological resources; or
- land that supports farm and ranch land protection policies of state or local programs.

In addition, owners of the parcels must have an adjusted gross income of less than one million dollars and be in compliance with USDA’s highly erodible land and wetland compliance requirements.

Send applications for review and evaluation to the Illinois NRCS State Office, 2118 W. Park Court, Champaign, IL 61821. All applicant entities and landowners will be evaluated to confirm eligibility. Individual parcels will be evaluated for eligibility and quality; the highest quality parcels for which the NRCS state office has funding will be selected and funded. Ranking and selection of parcels will take place immediately after the May 22, 2009 deadline.

NRCS will obligate funding for selected parcels in a cooperative agreement with eligible entities submitting the selected parcel. Nationally, FRPP has enrolled more than 620,000 acres on 3,100 farms and ranches since Congress first authorized the program in 1996. Since 2001, Illinois’ FRPP has accessed $11,626,859 to protect 27 farms, covering more than 4,050 acres in Northeast Illinois.

For more information, contact Bob McLeese, NRCS State FRPP Program Manager, at (217) 353-6643 or bob.mcleese@il.usda.gov or www.usda.gov/farmbill or www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/frpp.

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