Through the Agricultural Conservation Easements Program's Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP-ALE) component, NRCS provides financial assistance to eligible partners for purchasing Agricultural Land Easements that protect the agricultural use and conservation values of eligible land. In the case of working farms, the program helps farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture. The program also protects grazing uses and related conservation values by conserving grassland, including rangeland, pastureland and shrubland. Eligible partners include American Indian tribes, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations that have farmland, rangeland or grassland protection programs.
Under the Agricultural Land Easement component, NRCS may contribute up to 50 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement. Where NRCS determines that grasslands of special environmental significance will be protected, NRCS may contribute up to 75 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement.
Benefits
Agricultural Land Easements protect the long-term viability of the nation’s food supply by preventing conversion of productive working lands to non-agricultural uses. Land protected by agricultural land easements provides additional public benefits, including environmental quality, historic preservation, wildlife habitat and protection of open space.
Read about Easement Success Stories in Montana.
Who Is Eligible
Eligible partners include American Indian tribes, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations that have farmland, rangeland or grassland protection programs.
Eligible producers and forest managers include agricultural producers, owners of non-industrial private forestland, Indian Tribes, and those with an interest in agricultural or forestry operation.
All landowners of record are required to be in compliance with both the HEL and WC provisions to be considered an eligible participant at time of application as well as at time of payment.
What Land Is Eligible
Land eligible for agricultural easements includes cropland and hayland, grassland, rangeland, pastureland, nonindustrial private forest land, other farm or ranch lands, and environmentally sensitive areas.
Grasslands of Special Significance
Conservation easements can support the Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) by keeping working lands working as intact range. If you have property that lies within one of the Sage Grouse core areas it may, as a grassland of special environmental significance, qualify for the higher NRCS contribution of up to 75 percent. Please contact the land trust of your choice for further information on participating in ACEP-ALE.
How to Apply
ACEP-ALE applications are accepted on a continual basis, however, NRCS establishes application ranking dates for evaluation, ranking and approval of eligible applications. NRCS in Montana is accepting ACEP-ALE applications through January 28, 2022, for the current funding cycle. Applications received after the ranking date will be automatically deferred to the next funding period.
To enroll land through agricultural land easements, NRCS enters into agreements with eligible partners. If you are interested in an Agricultural Land Easement contact one of the entities eligible to hold ALE easements in Montana. Eligible entities may submit proposals to the NRCS state office to acquire conservation easements on eligible land.
Application Ranking
NRCS uses the Conservation Assessment Ranking Tool (CART) for all application assessment and ranking. Learn more about CART. NRCS will prioritize ACEP-ALE applications that protect agricultural uses and related conservation values of the land and those that maximize the protection of contiguous acres devoted to agricultural use.
Compensation
Economic Impact Report
The NRCS, Montana Association of Land Trusts, and the Heart of the Rockies Initiative have partnered to produce a report of the economic impact of ALE easements in Montana as well as stories from families that have realized economic benefits on their farm or ranch.
- Between 2014 and 2021 the NRCS, farm and ranch families, and land trusts (or state agency) teamed up to invest $109 million from the Farm Bill ALE program to conserve 289,000 acres of ag lands in 22 Montana counties.
- Every ALE Farm Bill dollar allocated to farm and ranch conservation yielded $1.89 of economic activity, nearly doubling the positive impact of the Farm Bill funding.
- 95% of the allocated funds were used to directly assist with farm and ranch agricultural operations and expansion, farm and ranch family succession planning, business strength and stability, and direct purchase of farm and ranch equipment.
- These dollars produced a total economic impact of $182 million for Montana’s economy, supported 1,057 local jobs and $41.5 million in labor income, and contributed $99 million to Montana’s Gross Domestic Product.
Report: Working for Montana Agriculture - Economic Benefits of Conservation Easements for Montana's Farms, Ranches, and Communities (PDF; 2.6MB)
Reference: Working for Montana Agriculture - Economic Impact Analysis Full Report (PDF; 306KB)
Reference: Working for Montana Agriculture - Property Tax Analysis Full Report (PDF; 181KB)
Prior-Year ACEP-ALE Montana Archives
More Information
For more information and updates about ACEP-ALE, please refer to the national NRCS ACEP Web site. Further information on ACEP-ALE in Montana is also available from the following NRCS employees:
Contacts
Matt Whithed, Program Specialist (ACEP-ALE)
Phone: 406-829-3395
Email: Matthew.Whithed
Justin Meissner, Acting Program Manager for Easements
Phone: 406-521-3015
Email: Justin.Meissner
