WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2004--Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced that an additional $3,255,000 of fiscal year 2004 funds have been distributed to 16 states to protect productive agricultural land through the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP).

"This is a voluntary program that provides matching funds to state and local governments and nongovernmental organizations to protect productive agricultural land," said Veneman. "These funds are allocated to 16 states that requested additional funding to protect more than 5,000 acres of farm and ranch land."

This enhances the $84.8 million in FRPP funds allocated for fiscal year 2004. The additional dollars were the result of savings in administrative costs garnered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service through fiscal year 2004.

The following states received the additional FRPP funds:

• Alabama $ 100,000
• California $ 200,000
• Colorado $ 224,400
• Connecticut $ 170,000
• Kentucky $ 200,000
• Maryland $ 200,000
• Massachusetts $ 292,500
• Michigan $ 37,100
• Minnesota $ 200,000
• New Hampshire $ 223,500
• New Jersey $ 200,000
• New York $ 200,000
• Ohio $ 300,000
• Pennsylvania $ 200,000
• South Carolina $ 213,800
• Vermont $ 293,700
• Total $ 3,255,000

Additional information on FRPP is on the Web at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/frpp.