Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP)

The Farm and Ranch Protection Program's (FRPP) goal is to facilitate and provide funding for the purchase of conservation easements or other interests in land for the purpose of protecting the agricultural use and related conservation values by limiting nonagricultural uses of the land. NRCS works through eligible government, tribal, and non-governmental entities and provides funds to pay for up to 50 percent of the fair market value of the easement.

Eligibility

Land eligibility requirements (not all listed):

·        Land must be privately owned,

·        Contain at least 50% prime, unique, statewide or locally important farmland or 
    contain historical or archaeological resources or land that furthers a State or
     local policy that is consistent with FRPP purpose,

·        Be subject to a pending offer by an eligible entity,

·        Be cropland, grassland, pasture land or forest land (forest land not more 2/3 of  
    easement) that contributes to the viability of an agricultural operation or serves
    as a buffer to protect an agricultural operation from development.

 Other program requirements (not all listed):

·        Landowner is responsible for complying with highly erodible land and wetland
    conservation and

·        Meeting the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) limitations

·        A conservation plan must be developed.

 
Applying for the FRPP Program:

Interested landowners need to apply and work with an eligible entity.  Eligible entities then submit their applications to the Pennsylvania NRCS State Office at One Credit Union Place, Suite 340, Harrisburg, PA 17110-2993.  Entities can submit applications at any time.  December 31, 2009 is the cutoff date to be considered in the first round of funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010.  After the December 31^st deadline, NRCS will accept and rank applications quarterly until funds are expended.  Unfunded applications can be retained for the next funding cycle.
 

2010 FRPP Program

• Program Announcement
• Entity Application and Parcel Information Forms (For completion by entity)
• Parcel Eligibility and Ranking Form (NRCS use only)
• NRCS-CPA-1200 (For completion by landowner)
• NRCS-CPA-1200 Instructions
• Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Form (For completion by landowner)
• Highly Erodible Land/Wetland Conservation Form (AD-1026) (For completion by landowner)
• Interim Regulation

2010 Cooperative Agreement Templates

The Cooperative Agreement Templates for Certified and Non-Certified Entities.  The Certified and Non-Certified Cooperative Agreement Templates are for agreements with and without installments.  Agreements with installments are longer to allow for a five-year payout of the easement value.  See agreements as listed below:

With Installments:

• Certified Entity Agreement.  Click here for Cooperative Agreement Template pdf
• Non-certified Entity Agreement.  Click here for Cooperative Agreement Template pdf

Without Installments:

• Certified Entity Agreement.  Click here for Cooperative Agreement Template pdf
• Non-certified Entity Agreement.  Click here for Cooperative Agreement Template pdf

All parcels must close within 18 months of the end of the fiscal year of the funding for the attachment.

Program Contacts

Barry Frantz, Asst. State Conservationist for Programs, 717-237-2216
Hathaway Jones, Program Analyst, 717-237-2210                                                                                       
Noel Soto, Soil Conservationist, 717-237-2173