Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP)

The Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) provides matching funds to help purchase development rights to keep productive farm and ranchland in agricultural uses. Working through existing programs, USDA partners with State, tribal, or local governments and non-governmental organizations to acquire conservation easements or other interests in land from landowners. USDA provides up to 50 percent of the fair market easement value.

Eligible Farmland

To qualify, farmland must:

be privately owned
contain at least 50% of some combination of prime, statewide, important unique or other productive farm land, or include important historical or archaeological sites
be part of a pending offer from a State, tribe, or local farmland protection program
be in conservation compliance
Individual/qualifying entity does not exceed Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Limitation
have a conservation plan that addresses the long term viability of the farm
be part of a systematically protected area
be in an area that has access to adequate infrastructure and agricultural support services
face development pressure

Any agency of State or local government, a Federally recognized Indian Tribe, or a qualifying non-government organization can participate. A qualifying program utilizes voluntary easements or other legal devices to protect productive farmland.

Qualifying Entity (this document requires Adobe Acrobat)

2008 Program Information

Authorization for FRPP under the 2002 Farm Bill has been extended. Sign-up periods for 2008 have not been determined and applications are not being processed at this time.