NRCS Nevada accepting applications for Fiscal Year 2025 Agricultural Conservation Easement Program under the Inflation Reduction Act

The Natural Resources Conservation Service is accepting applications for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). Applications are accepted from eligible entities (agencies of state or local governments, tribes, or non-profit or nongovernmental organizations) who work with landowners to submit applications for the program. 

NRCS accepts applications year-round for ACEP Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP-ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE).  Eligible entities should apply by October 4, 2024, or December 20, 2024.To apply, contact the Nevada State Program contacts listed below.  

In fiscal year 2025, states will receive Inflation Reduction Act funding and all eligible applications within a state will compete. The current ACEP priorities for the Inflation Reduction Act funding are unchanged from last fiscal year. The IRA funding is in addition to the funding authorized and available under the Farm Bill.   

What is ACEP? 

ACEP helps landowners, land trusts, and other entities protect, restore, and enhance wetlands or protect working farms and ranches through conservation easements, and contains two different programs: Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE). 

Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) help private and tribal landowners, land trusts, and other entities such as state and local governments protect croplands and grasslands on working farms and ranches by limiting non-agricultural uses of the land through conservation easements. To enroll land through Agricultural Land Easements, NRCS enters into agreements with eligible partners like American Indian tribes, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations that have farmland, rangeland or grassland protection programs.   

Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) help private and tribal landowners protect, restore and enhance wetlands which have been previously degraded due to agricultural uses. To enroll land through Wetland Reserve Easements, NRCS enters into purchase agreements with eligible private landowners or American Indian tribes. NRCS and the landowner work together to develop and implement a wetland reserve plan to guide the restoration easement process. 

How does ACEP work? 

Landowners who enroll in ACEP retain private ownership of their land but must follow certain land use requirements including maintaining a specific use of their lands. Examples include:  

• Agreeing to limit non-agricultural use of land in an agricultural land easement.  
• Agreeing to cease agricultural activity on a wetland easement to protect the conservation value of the wetlands.  

NRCS may provide landowners enrolled in easements with both financial assistance and one-on-one technical support to fit their specific land use goals. Easements are also annually monitored to ensure compliance with allowable land uses. 

I’m a landowner or entity that wants to learn more. Where do I get more information? 

For more information contact Ariel De Lara, Nevada Assistant State Conservationist for Programs at ariel.delara@usda.gov or 530-620-5323 or Trina Johnson, Resource Conservationist at trina.johnson@usda.gov or 775-857-8500. 

More information about ACEP, ALE and WRE and application materials can be found at https://tinyurl.com/2xctkwyj