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Funding Made Available by the Inflation Reduction Act
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced fresh funding for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) for fiscal year 2025. The program, run by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, helps conserve, restore, and protect wetlands, agricultural lands, and grasslands at risk of conversion. The Inflation Reduction Act has made this funding possible.
“The Inflation Reduction Act has provided us with additional resources to fund ACEP, ensuring long-term protection of our farmland and wetland resources,” commented USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Terry Cosby.
ACEP Applications and Funding
NRCS accepts applications year-round for ACEP-ALE and ACEP-WRE. Landowners and partners can apply by Oct. 4, 2024, or Dec. 20, 2024, to be considered for two state-led funding cycles. Unfunded applications from fiscal year 2024 will be automatically reconsidered during the October 4 funding cycle.
The Inflation Reduction Act funding prioritizes conserving grasslands at high risk for conversion and agricultural lands threatened by non-agricultural uses, among others. The fiscal year 2025 authorized amount for the Inflation Reduction Act funding for ACEP is $500 million.
Justice40 Initiative and ACEP Streamlining
ACEP is included in the President’s Justice40 Initiative, aimed at ensuring 40% of federal climate investment benefits flow to disadvantaged communities. NRCS is also streamlining ACEP to improve Inflation Reduction Act implementation and make the program more accessible.
Last year, NRCS announced a $138 million investment from the Inflation Reduction Act in 138 new climate-smart conservation easements. Further details about the Inflation Reduction Act funding for fiscal year 2025 will be available soon.
More Information
Producers can learn more about NRCS programs by contacting their local USDA Service Center or logging into their farmers.gov account. For those without an account, sign up today.
For over 90 years, NRCS has assisted farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners in improving the quality of our environment. With Inflation Reduction Act funding, it is now working to further these conservation efforts. For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov.
USDA has a significant impact on the lives of all Americans daily. The Biden-Harris administration aims to transform America’s food system with a focus on resilience, fair markets, and clean energy capabilities. To learn more, visit usda.gov.
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