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Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Pays landowners for an agricultural easement that keeps farmland in farming forever. Often used with a land trust to lower the sale price for the next farmer or to free up capital for the current one.

Typical award
Up to 50% of fair market easement value (up to 75% in some cases)
Deadline
Rolling through NRCS state offices and partner land trusts
Type of support
Funding / grants · Land access
Who can apply
Individual producer, Non-profit, Tribal
Fits these operations
Vegetables & produce, Cut flowers, Orchard & fruit, Mixed / diversified, Value-added & food business, Urban farm
The eligibility and application details below are general guidance for this kind of program, not text copied from the funder. The facts above — who runs it, how much, and when it closes — are hand-checked. Always confirm specifics on the official page.

Am I eligible?

  • Open nationwide — check for state-level ranking or set-asides
  • Individual farmers, ranchers, and farm businesses may apply
  • Non-profits, co-ops, and community organizations may apply
  • Tribes, tribal producers, and tribal enterprises are eligible
  • Active SAM.gov registration and UEI number required before award
  • Must be in compliance with USDA/federal program rules (AGI limits, conservation compliance)
  • Matching funds or in-kind contribution may be requested

How to apply

  1. 1Read the current program page or notice of funding to confirm this cycle's rules
  2. 2Contact USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service before writing — most funders will tell you if you are a fit
  3. 3Register in SAM.gov and get a UEI (this can take 2–4 weeks — start early)
  4. 4Draft the narrative, budget, and any required letters of support
  5. 5Submit whenever you are ready — rolling review, earlier is usually better
  6. 6Sign the award agreement and track spending for reporting

What you'll need

  • Farm or business name, address, and tax ID / EIN
  • SAM.gov UEI number and active registration
  • Project description and itemized budget
  • Maps, photos, or quotes for anything you plan to build or buy
  • Proof of land ownership or a lease covering the project period
  • Organizational documents (501(c)(3) letter, board list) if applying as a non-profit

Timeline & contact

Rolling review — expect roughly 1–3 months from submission to decision
Get help: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service — your local USDA Service Center or state office can walk you through it

Ready to apply?

Applications go through USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, not through this site. Open the official page below for eligibility rules, forms, and contacts. For federal programs it's worth calling your local USDA Service Center or Cooperative Extension office first — they help with paperwork for free and know what your county actually funds.

Open official page

This listing was last hand-checked August 2026.

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