Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Press Release

USDA Announces New Fiscal Year 2025 Funding for Agricultural Conservation Easements

Topics
MontanaLandWetlandsAgricultural Conservation Easement ProgramAgricultural Land EasementsWetland Reserve Easements
Publish Date
The Toohey Farm received compensation for a land conservation easement from the Gallatin Valley Land Trust as a way to help farmers stay on their land as well as pass it on to the next generation. Photo taken June 14, 2019 in Gallatin County, Montana.

The application batching dates for conservation easement programs using both Farm Bill and Inflation Reduction Act funding have been set for fiscal year 2025.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced new funding for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) for fiscal year 2025. Administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the program helps landowners and other eligible entities conserve, restore, and protect wetlands, productive agricultural lands, and grasslands at risk of conversion to non-grassland uses.

“The Inflation Reduction Act has provided additional funding for conservation easements that protect Montana’s working lands,” said Tom Watson, NRCS State Conservationist for Montana. “Landowners and partners across the state have a long history of effectively utilizing easements to secure and enhance agricultural properties, which are important to the ecological and economic sustainability of our rural communities.”  

NRCS accepts applications year-round for ACEP Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP-ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE).  Interested producers, landowners, and partners should apply by the following dates to be considered in the current funding cycle. In addition, any application submitted to NRCS that was unfunded in fiscal year 2024 will be automatically re-considered during the October 4 funding cycle. 

  • ACEP IRA – Oct. 4, 2024
  • ACEP-WRE Farm Bill – Nov. 1, 2024
  • ACEP-ALE Farm Bill – Nov. 29, 2024
  • ACEP IRA – Dec. 20, 2024

The Inflation Reduction Act funding is in addition to the funding authorized and available under the Farm Bill. Nationwide, the fiscal year 2025 authorized amount for the Inflation Reduction Act funding for ACEP is $500 million.

More Information

To learn more about NRCS programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center.  Producers can also apply for NRCS programs, manage conservation plans and contracts, and view and print conservation maps by logging into their farmers.gov account. If you don’t have an account, sign up today.