#  Agricultural Conservation Easement Program  (10.931)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/programs/10-931-agricultural-conservation-easement-program/  
Publisher: Well Told Grants. Data: USAspending.gov and Grants.gov, updated November 7, 2026.

 Agricultural Conservation Easement Program  is run by Department of Agriculture. From fiscal 2021 to 2025 it awarded $164 million in 237 grants, about $690,887 per award.

## Objectives

To establish an agricultural conservation easement program for the conservation of eligible land and natural resources through easements or other interests in the land. The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) is comprised of two components – Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE). The ACEP-ALE component provides funding to eligible entities to purchase conservation easements to protect the agricultural use and future viability, and related conservation values of eligible land by limiting nonagricultural uses of that land; and to protect grazing uses and related conservation values by restoring or conserving eligible land. The ACEP-WRE component provides funding for the purchase of conservation easements held by NRCS, and to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands on eligible land.

## Funding by fiscal year

| Year | Amount | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | -$9.5 million | 75 |
| 2022 | $45.1 million | 80 |
| 2023 | $53.8 million | 82 |
| 2024 | $49.1 million | 74 |
| 2025 | $25.3 million | 35 |

## Largest recipients

| Recipient | State | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Trust for Tomorrow | North Carolina | $60.0 million |
| Ducks Unlimited, Inc. | Mississippi | $20.4 million |
| Ducks Unlimited Inc | North Dakota | $15.5 million |
| Ecosystems Protection Service, LLC | Arkansas | $10.8 million |
| Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance | Iowa | $10.5 million |
| Wildlife Mississippi | Mississippi | $9.7 million |
| Mississippi River Trust | Mississippi | $8.2 million |
| Ducks Unlimited, Inc. | Michigan | $8.1 million |
| Upstate Forever | South Carolina | $7.5 million |
| Central Arkansas Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc. | Arkansas | $6.1 million |
| Pinchot Institute for Conservation | District of Columbia | $5.5 million |
| Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc. | Maryland | $5.4 million |
| MCL Jasco Inc | Michigan | $4.8 million |
| Foresight Conservation, Inc. | Idaho | $4.4 million |
| The Teton Regional Land Trust Inc | Idaho | $4.3 million |
| Upper Valley Land Trust | New Hampshire | $3.8 million |
| The Nature Conservancy | Virginia | $3.4 million |
| American Conservation Experience | Arizona | $3.1 million |
| Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries | Louisiana | $2.7 million |
| Allen Engineering & Science Inc | Mississippi | $2.5 million |

## Open opportunities

- [Easement Restoration and Stewardship](https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/usda-nhq-acep-26-nofo0001456-easement-restoration-and-stewardship/), closes November 19, 2026