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USDA REQUESTS PROPOSALS FOR THE FARMLAND PROTECTION PROGRAM

  COLUMBIA, April 11, 2003 —USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is requesting proposals for the Farmland Protection Program (FPP) from federally recognized Indian tribes, states, units of local government or non-governmental organizations to cooperate in the acquisition of conservation easements on farms and ranches. 

“Our productive soil is a national treasure—and keeping South Carolina’s farm lands productive is a high priority now and for the future,” NRCS State Conservationist Walter W. Douglas said.  “Land use devoted to agriculture also provides important contributions to environmental quality, historical and archaeological resources, our rural heritage and scenic beauty.”  

FPP is a voluntary program, reauthorized in the 2002 Farm Bill, that helps farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture.

Eligible land includes farm and ranch land that has prime, unique or other productive soil or that contains historical or archaeological resources.  These lands also must be subject to a pending offer from eligible entities for the purpose of protecting topsoil by limiting conversion of that land to nonagricultural uses.

The request for proposals was published in the Federal Register on April 3, 2003.  Proposals must be received in the appropriate NRCS state office by May 19, 2003.

Proposals must (1) describe the eligible entity’s farmland protection program and record of acquiring and holding permanent agricultural land protection easement or other interests and (2) describe the lands to be acquired with assistance from FPP.  Details are in the Federal Register notice.

The request for proposals and additional information on FPP can be found at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/2002.  Information on the 2002 Farm Bill is at http://www.usda.gov/farmbill. For more information, contact NRCS Acting Assistant State Conservationist for Programs Shawnn Balstad at (803) 253-3930.

  USDA-NRCS is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     

Contact:          
Amy O. Maxwell
(803) 765-5402
amy.maxwell@sc.usda.gov