By Jamie Martin
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) invites applications for the Agricultural Land Easement (ALE) program’s second round of funding for fiscal year 2025. Interested parties must apply by December 31, 2024.
Part of the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) and the Inflation Reduction Act’s Climate-Smart efforts, ALE supports partners in purchasing easements on private agricultural lands.
Eligible applicants include Indian tribes, state and local governments, and NGOs dedicated to farmland and grassland preservation.
“This valuable program helps maintain the agricultural viability of the land for future generations,” stated NRCS Ohio State Conservationist John Wilson. “Ohio’s farmlands are an essential part of the state’s identity and economic makeup. We must do all that we can to preserve them.”
Eligible lands include cropland, rangeland, grassland, pastureland, and private non-industrial forest land. NRCS prioritizes projects that enhance conservation values and protect contiguous agricultural acres.
For details, visit a local NRCS Field office or contact Abby McClain at Abigail.Mcclain@usda.gov.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: National