Virginia Receives Funds to Protect High Risk Farmland

RICHMOND, April 24, 2006- America loses 2.2 million acres of farmland and forest land each year-- some of it, the most productive farmland near where most Americans live. To ensure a vibrant future for American agriculture, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is providing $70 million nationwide to protect farmland.  Virginia is receiving nearly $1 million through NRCS’ Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP).

State, federally recognized tribal and local governments and non-governmental organizations interested in working together to acquire conservation easements on farms should submit proposals to NRCS State Offices by May 11, 2006. 

"Preserving Virginia’s rich agricultural landscape of productive and prime farm land will continue to provide open space, clean water, healthy food and wildlife habitat,” said NRCS State Conservationist, M. Denise Doetzer.  "Once protected by conservation easements, this land will be safeguarded from development pressure and continue to provide a promising livelihood for future generations."

Before the farm land can be enrolled into FRPP, it must have the following components:
--contain prime, statewide or locally-important soils; or historic or archaeological sites;
--be part of a pending offer from a non-governmental organization, state, tribe or local farmland protection program;
--be privately owned;
--covered by a conservation plan;
--large enough to sustain agricultural production;
--accessible to markets for what the land produces; and
--surrounded by parcels of land that can support long-term agricultural production.

Last year, four easements were completed on 2,000 acres for more than $1.5 million in Virginia.  USDA provides up to 50 percent of the appraised fair market value of the conservation easement in this voluntary program. State and local entities can match that amount, including the use of landowner donations.

For more information on FRPP in Virginia, email barry.harris@va.usda.gov or visit the Virginia NRCS programs webpage at www.va.nrcs.usda.gov/programs.

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