Federal grant programs / Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (10.931)

Also known as ACEP

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$164 million
• Grant awards237
• Typical award$473,128
• Awarded in FY 2025$25.3 million
• Size rank661 of 1,823
• Type of assistanceCooperative agreements

Key findings

• It is the 661st largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 120% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 36 states and territories.

What the program funds

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.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

Open opportunities

• Easement Restoration and Stewardship
  Open · Closes November 19, 2026 (12 days left) · up to $5.0 million

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

For ACEP-ALE an eligible entity that is an Indian Tribe, State government, local government, or a nongovernmental organization which has a farmland or grassland protection program that purchases agricultural land easements for the purpose of protecting agriculture use and related conservation values, including grazing uses and related conservation values, by limiting conversion to nonagricultural uses of the land, and that has pending offers may apply for funds. This program is available in all 50 States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Mariana Islands. Individual landowners must apply through the local agency or organization that handles the farmland or grassland protection program. For ACEP-WRE, private landowners, including individual landowners, partnerships, associations, corporations, estates, trusts, and other business or legal entities, and Indian tribes are eligible to apply. This program is available in all 50 States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Mariana Islands.

What the money can and cannot pay for

The ACEP-ALE component provides funds to protect the agricultural use, including grazing, and related conservation values of eligible land through cost-share assistance to eligible entities for purchasing agricultural land easements. The Federal share for ACEP-ALE acquisition is limited to a maximum of 50 percent of the appraised fair market value of the agricultural land easement. The Chief can determine lands as Grasslands of Special Environmental Significance which authorizes a federal share of up to 75 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement. ACEP-ALE are perpetual easements or maximum duration allowed by State law. A right of enforcement is incorporated in the conservation easement deed for the protection of the Federal investment. A failure of title would require the eligible entity to reimburse the United States for the Federal share of the easement value. Under ACEP-WRE, eligible landowners may offer farmed wetlands, prior converted wetlands, wetlands farmed under natural condition, former or degraded wetlands on lands that have been used or are currently being used for the production of food and fiber, including cropland, rangeland and forest production land, lands substantially altered by flooding, certain riparian areas, along with certain adjacent areas. The goal of ACEP-WRE is to achieve the greatest wetlands functions and values, along with optimum wildlife habitat on every acre enrolled in the program.

Continue reading on SAM.gov

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. ACEP-ALE – NRCS may provide up to 50 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement. An eligible entity will share in the cost of purchasing an agricultural land easement in an amount that is at least equivalent to the Federal share. An eligible entity may include as part of its share a charitable donation or qualified conservation contribution (as defined by section 170(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) from the landowner. NRCS may authorize a waiver to increase the federal share to 75 percent for grasslands of special environmental significance with respective adjustments to the eligible entity contribution. For grasslands of special environmental significance enrollments, the eligible entity must provide a non-Federal share that is at least equivalent to the Federal share or comprises the remainder of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement, whichever is less. Each eligible entity is required to fund its own administrative costs in acquiring easements, such as appraisals, surveys, title searches, and costs incurred in managing and enforcing the easements.

Continue reading on SAM.gov

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines

Award range and average, in the agency's words

Under ACEP-ALE, cost-share provided by NRCS for the purchase of an agricultural land easement ranges from $216 per acre for grasslands of special environmental significance easements to $13,670 per acre for all other general ACEP-ALE easements. The average per acre cost-share amount provided by NRCS is $2,790 per acre. Under ACEP-WRE, easement compensation amounts provided directly to eligible landowners ranges from $1,200 per acre to $13,000 per acre, with an average cost of $2,600 per acre.

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal Year2025: Landowners protected 13 acres of their vineyard with a conservation easement allowing it to be forever farmed. The land, with its excellent farm soil, has been working farmland for centuries. The land is also connected to other conservation properties, adding to a protected corridor of lands.

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

Nonprofits received 80% of the money, state and local governments 9.1% and small businesses 8.8%.

By state

24 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.