Rolnictwo i rynki · 6.12.2004

Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program

Section 2503 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171) amended the Food Security Act of 1985 to include the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP), formerly known as the Farmland Protection Program (FPP). Congress delegated authority to administer FRPP to the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). NRCS, on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and using its authorities, requests proposals from Federally recognized Indian tribes, States, units of local government, and nongovernmental organizations to cooperate in the acquisition of conservation easements on farms and ranches. Eligible land includes farm and ranch land that has prime, unique, or other productive soil, or that contains historical or archaeological resources. These lands must also be subject to a pending offer from eligible entities for the purpose of protecting topsoil by limiting conversion of that land to nonagricultural uses. Over $78 million in FRPP funds is available to purchase conservation easements in fiscal year 2005.