NRCS Oregon Accepting Applications for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Oregon is accepting applications from agricultural producers and forest landowners for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). The ACEP program helps producers enroll working lands and wetlands into conservation easements.

While NRCS accepts ACEP applications year-round, Oregon producers and landowners should apply by February 2, 2023 to be considered for ACEP funding in the current cycle. Applications received after the ranking date will automatically be considered during the next funding cycle. Funding is provided through a competitive process.

ACEP enrollment options include:

• ACEP-Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE): Helps restore, protect and enhance wetlands on eligible land. Wetland reserve easements are either perpetual, 30-years, or maximum duration under state law, or 30-year contracts (for Indian Tribes).
• ACEP-Agricultural Land Easements (ALE): Protects farmlands and grasslands by limiting non-agricultural uses of the land. Agricultural Land Easements are either perpetual or the maximum duration allowed under State law.

State Technical Committees, composed of conservation and agricultural-related agency and organization representatives, work with NRCS to identify resource priorities and how best to address them. NRCS then sets state-specific ranking dates to evaluate applications for funding that account for producer needs, staff workload and ensure potential participants have ample opportunities to apply.

Find more information about the program on Oregon’s ACEP website. To learn more or apply, please contact your local NRCS field office or Eric Moeggenberg, NRCS Oregon’s easement specialist at eric.moeggenberg@usda.gov or 541-699-3185.

Original source can be found here.