The Pros of Ag Conservation Easements

I'm Susan Allen with Washington Ag Today. The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) was created by the 2014 Farm Bill to protect critical water resources and wildlife habitat, and encourage private owners to maintain land for farming and ranching. Through the voluntary sale of an easement, landowners limit future development to protect these key resources. We recently spoke with Cindy Ramos of the Natural Resources Conservation Service and she had this to say

Ramos: ACEP's Agricultural Land Easements not only protect the long-term viability of the nation's food supply by preventing conversion of productive working lands to non-agricultural uses, they also support environmental quality, wildlife habitat, historic preservation and protection of open spaces.

Native American Tribes, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations that have farmland or grassland protection programs are eligible to partner with Natural Resources Conservation Service to purchase conservation easements. We're losing agricultural lands to development – 43 million acres across the country over the past 30 years. This is why Agricultural Land Easements are so critical to outdoorsmen. They will help ensure that we have the land we need for farming, ranching and wildlife conservation. Today Conservation easements have many options. They can be used to protect agriculture, restore wetland, preserve a view shed, prevent high population density. They can be sold and donated for tax benefits. Susan Allen with Washington Ag Today