NS - Grant Application Federal Farm & Ranch Land Protection Program for Ag Conservation Easements

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-~ [lnited States CtEepart~nen# t-# I7,gricuNture Natural Resources Conservation Service 4405 Bland Road, Suite 205 Telephone No.: (919) 873-2101 Raleigh, North Carolina 27609 Fax No_: (919) 873-2156 March 17, 2004 NORTH CAROLINA BULLETIN NO. 300-4-10 SUBJECT: Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program Request for Proposals Purpose: To inform the field of opportunities for participation in the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program for FY 2004 Expiration: December 31, 2004 Background: The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 provides up to $125 million in financial and technical assistance for the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) in fiscal year 2004. Eligible entities include state and local governments, federally recognized Indian tribes, and non- governmental, non- profit conservation organizations. Policy and procedures for implementing the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program are contained in Part 519 of the Conservation Programs Manual. The information presented in this bulletin is a summary of key points contained in the manual. Refer to Part 519 for clarification. Eligibility and Application Process The request for proposals (RFP) (Attachment 1) is attached to this bulletin. Entities submitting proposals should include all of the required information as indicated in the RFP. The deadline for submitting proposals is May 3, 2004. Eligible entities are federally recognized Indian tribes, states, units of local government, and non-governmental organizations that have written pending offers for the acquisition of conservation easements for the purposes of protecting agricultural use. Individual landowners cannot apply directly for FRPP funds. Landowner interest must be conveyed to an eligible entity that has an existing farmland protection program. The eligible entity can then apply for federal FRPP matching funds to help acquire the easement. The federal Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program is designed to be a supplemental funding source for existing state and local farmland protection programs. Refer to Subpart D, Part 519.31 of the Conservation Programs Manual for cooperating entity eligibility requirements. Proposals must provide adequate proof of a pending offer for the subject land. Part 519.33a,b provides guidance on pending offers. The NRCS State Conservationist will review and rank proposals based on the following: • Organization or agency eligibility • Land eligibility. Refer to Part 519.32a-d for eligibility requirements • Extent to which the proposal protects prime, unique, or other productive soil DIST: E