Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program (FRPP) - North Carolina

The Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program (FRPP) provides matching funds to help purchase development rights to keep productive farm and ranchland in agricultural uses. 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.

To qualify, farmland tracts, must be part of a pending offer from a State, tribe, local government, or qualified non-governmental organization; be privately owned; have a conservation plan; be large enough to sustain agricultural production; be accessible to markets for what the land produces; have adequate infrastructure and agricultural support services; have surrounding parcels of land that can support long-term agricultural production; contain at least 50 percent non-forested acreage and 50 percent of the land must contain prime or state important soil types.  In some cases farmland containing significant historic or archaeological resources may be eligible.  Proposals must be submitted by the eligible entities to the appropriate NRCS State Office during the application window.  Applications will be considered based on funding availability and the attributes of the land parcels offered.

• National program information, fact sheets, and other information
• FRPP Rules, procedures, and forms specific to North Carolina

Program Contact

Greg Walker, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, 919-873-2104

Last Modified: 12/20/2005