NRCS Washington to host Fiscal Year 2023 ACEP-ALE Kickoff Workshop

The Natural Resources Conservation Service in Washington (NRCS-WA) is hosting an informational workshop Oct. 5, 2022, in preparation for the Fiscal Year 2023 Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP-ALE) sign up.

Through ACEP-ALE, NRCS provides financial assistance to eligible partners for purchasing perpetual 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 agricultural production. 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.

Panelists from the NRCS-WA Programs Staff will discuss ACEP-ALE basics from application to closing. NRCS staff will also discuss program nuances for Fiscal Year 2023, including the new application sign-up deadline, an overview of the updated ALE application packets and submission procedures, and the anticipated FY23 program timeline. Panelists from USDA’s Farm Service Agency will discuss eligibility requirements for program participants and panelists from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will discuss data resources as they pertain to application requirements and ranking. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to engage with panelists during a facilitated optional question-and-answer session following the presentations.

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, Time: 9 to 11:30 a.m. Platform: Microsoft Teams

Workshop Agenda: Welcome & NRCS Partnership Updates, NRCS Programming & Resources: What’s New for FY23, FY23 ALE Application Process, Tips & Tricks for a Successful ALE Application with Representatives from FSA and NASS, and Q&A.

The workshop will be held via Microsoft Teams. Registration is not required. To access the event, follow the workshop link online. The link is also available on the FY23 ACEP-ALE Kickoff Workshop Invitation and the Full Workshop Agenda.

For more information about ACEP-ALE, please refer to the NRCS ACEP-ALE National Webpage and the NRCS-WA ACEP-ALE Program Webpage. For questions about the workshop, please email Carlee Elliott, State Easement Program Manager, at carlee.elliott@usda.gov. Subscribe to Farmers.gov (govdelivery.com) to receive updates on the latest USDA news and stories, including NRCS programs national funding opportunities.