​USDA, NRCS in New Hampshire Announces Additional 2023 Application Signup for Agricultural Land Easements

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in New Hampshire has established a second Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 application batching date for Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). 

The application cutoff batching date for ACEP-ALE will be April 14, 2023.

Through ACEP-ALE, NRCS provides funds to conservation partners to purchase conservation easements on private working lands. This program helps keep working lands working, especially in areas experiencing development pressure.  Partners include state or local agencies, non-profits, and tribes. Landowners continue to own their property but voluntarily enter into a legal agreement with a cooperating entity to purchase an easement. The partner applies for matching funds from NRCS for the purchase of an easement from the landowner to permanently protect the agricultural use and conservation values of the land.  Landowners do not apply directly to NRCS for funding under this program. 

To be eligible to receive ACEP-ALE funding, entities must meet certain eligibility criteria.  Landowners of record, as well as the land being offered for enrollment, must also meet additional specific eligibility criteria as outlined in the application materials posted on the New Hampshire ACEP-ALE webpage. 

All entities interested in applying to ACEP-ALE in FY 2023 must submit:  

1. A complete ‘Entity Application an ALE Agreement’ on form NRCS-CPA-41 (dated 02/2020 or later) unless they have a current Program Agreement with NRCS; 
2. A complete ‘Parcel Sheet for Entity Application for an ALE Agreement’ on form NRCS-CPA-41A (dated 02/2020 or later);  
3. The FY 2023 ALE Parcel Workbook for each parcel to be considered for funding in FY 2023; and 
4. All required supporting materials, maps, etc. to document land and landowner eligibility. 

While NRCS accepts applications for ACEP-ALE year-round, only properly completed and executed applications submitted on the appropriate forms by April 14, 2023, accompanied by all required supporting documentation, will be considered for funding in FY 2023, subject to availability of funds.  If applications are received after April 14th, or if they are incomplete, NRCS will work with the entity to prepare the application for potential consideration in FY 2024. 

Updated ranking criteria, application forms, required supporting documentation, and other important program information can be found on the NRCS, N.H. ACEP-ALE webpage.

Who to Contact:

Questions regarding this signup period should be directed to the NRCS, N.H. ACEP-Ale programs team via email at: sm.fpac.nrcs.nh.programs@usda.gov 

Original source can be found here.