NRCS Washington sets Agricultural Land Easement batching deadline

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service in Washington (NRCS-WA) is currently accepting applications for the Agricultural Conservation Easements Program - Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP-ALE).

While applications for ACEP-ALE are taken on a continuous basis, the batching date to be considered for Fiscal Year 2026 funding is Nov. 21, 2025.

ACEP-ALE 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 that may apply for ACEP-ALE include American Indian tribes, state and local governments, and non-governmental organizations that have farmland, rangeland, or grassland protection programs.

More Information

For more information about ACEP-WRE, please refer to the NRCS-WA ACEP-ALE Program Webpageor the NRCS ACEP-ALE national webpage. For questions about the program please email our state easement team at [email protected].

To learn how to get started with NRCS, click here, or visit a local USDA service center. Producers can also apply for NRCS programs, manage conservation plans and contracts, and view and print conservation maps by logging into their farmers.gov account. If you don't have an account, sign up today. To learn how to sign up for free email and text alerts about the latest NRCS program and national funding opportunities, click here.

For 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat. NRCS uses the latest science and technology to help keep working lands working, boost agricultural economies, and increase the competitiveness of American agriculture. NRCS provides one-on-one, personalized advice and financial assistance and works with producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov.