DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR USDA FUNDING APPROACHING

NEW MEXICO (KSMX ) – New Mexico USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service announced the application deadline for Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Funding. The Farm Bill, or Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 enacted in December of last year, reauthorized funding for the program with some amendments, as well as authorized funding nationwide at $450 million per fiscal year for 2019 through 2023. The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) focuses on restoring and protecting wetlands as well as conserving productive agricultural lands and grasslands. Landowners are compensated for enrolling their land in easements based on the market value of the land. The deadline to apply in order to be considered for fiscal year 2019 funding is April 22, 2019. The application forms and information on how to apply can be found at the NRCS New Mexico ACEP website, nrcs.usda.gov.