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Kansas Receives Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program Funds

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Kansas Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has received $1.2 million for the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) for Fiscal Year 2010.

"FRPP provides matching funds to help purchase development rights to keep productive farm and ranch lands in agricultural uses," states Eric B. Banks, State Conservationist for NRCS.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides funds to state, tribal, or local governments and nongovernmental organizations (eligible entities) to acquire conservation easements from landowners. The USDA provides up to 50 percent of the appraised fair market value of the conservation easement. The eligible entities must provide at least half of the appraised fair market value of the conservation easement.

Proposals can be submitted by the eligible entities to the Kansas NRCS State Office on a continuous basis throughout the year.

"All proposals submitted to the Kansas NRCS State Office prior to February 15, 2010, will be reviewed for funding consideration," states Banks. "The individual farms and ranches are evaluated and ranked individually and funds are obligated to the eligible entities associated with the highest ranked farms and ranches in a cooperative agreement."

"To qualify, the land must have fifty percent prime, unique, or important farmland soils; have a historic or ar-cheological resource; or have land that supports the policy of a state or local farm and ranch lands protection program," explains Banks.

The land must also: be part of a pending offer from a local,



Copyright 2009 The Wabaunsee County Signal-Enterprise, Alma, Kansas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 The Wabaunsee County Signal-Enterprise Alma, Kansas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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