Signup Deadline Announced for Alabama’s ACEP - ALE Easement Program

Signup Deadline Announced for Alabama's ACEP - ALE Easement Program

Auburn, Alabama - Alabama Acting State Conservationist, Brandon McCray, with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announces that the Fiscal Year 2024 Farm Bill Easement and Financial Assistance Programs signup deadline is March 31, 2024. Applicable program include:

• The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program - Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP-ALE)
• Applications for the ACEP-ALE are accepted from eligible entities only. These eligible entities may submit proposals to NRCS to acquire a conservation easement on eligible agricultural land. NRCS does not accept applications for ACEP-ALE directly from producers. Producers will need to work with an eligible entity to pursue funding for an ACEP-ALE conservation easement. Some examples of eligible entities include Land Trusts and Land Conservancies. Land types that could be eligible for ACEP-ALE include cropland, rangeland, grassland, pastureland and nonindustrial private forestland with prime and statewide important soils.
• All applications must be submitted to Alabama NRCS by March 31, 2024, for ACEP-ALE (from the eligible entity). Conservation program applications are available at your local USDA Service Center and at our Application and Forms web page. NRCS provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain and improve our natural resources and environment. More information on NRCS conservation programs can be found at Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Alabama | Natural Resources Conservation Service (usda.gov).
• USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America's food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.   

For more information about Alabama NRCS and Programmatic initiatives, priorities and assessment/ranking criteria, visit online at https://www.al.nrcs.usda.gov. Additionally, visit your local USDA Service Center to determine eligibility; applicants are not eligible for USDA programs until they have ensured all Farm Bill eligibility requirements have been met. You can locate your local Service Center at USDA Service Center Locator.

Additional information on Agricultural Land Easements is available here Agricultural Land Easements | Natural Resources Conservation Service (usda.gov).