NRCS provides financial assistance to eligible partners for purchasing Agricultural Land Easements that protect the agricultural use and conservation values of eligible land. In the case of working farms, the program helps farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture. The program also protects grazing uses and related conservation values by conserving grassland, including rangeland, pastureland and shrubland. Eligible partners include Indian tribes, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations that have farmland or grassland protection programs.
Under the Agricultural Land component of the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), NRCS may contribute up to 50 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement. Where NRCS determines that grasslands of special environmental significance will be protected, NRCS may contribute up to 75 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement.
The application deadline for ACEP-ALE FY2017 funding is March 10, 2017.
Grasslands of Special Significance
Sage Grouse Initiative 2.0 provides a four-year roadmap for investing approximately $211 million in sage grouse conservation efforts. Conservation easements can support the Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) by keeping working lands working as intact range. If you have property that lies within one of the Sage Grouse core areas it may, as a grassland of special environmental significance, qualify for the higher NRCS contribution of up to 75 percent. Please contact the land trust of your choice for further information on participating in ACEP-ALE.
How to Apply
To enroll land through Agricultural Land Easements, landowners should contact one of the entities eligible to hold ALE easements in Montana.
Fiscal Year 2017 Application Information
Montana Success Stories
Prior Year ACEP-ALE Archives
Contacts
Lisa McCauley, Program Specialist (ACEP-ALE)
Phone: 406-587-6970
Email: Lisa.McCauley
