Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program

The goal of the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) is to protect prime or unique farmland or statewide and locally important soils or historic and archaeological resources on farm and ranch land from conversion to non-agricultural uses.  The program preserves valuable farmland for future generations.  This goal is achieved by working cooperatively with State, Tribal, and local government entities and non-governmental organizations.

FRPP  provides matching funds to help eligible entities purchase development rights to keep productive farm and ranchland in agricultural uses. USDA provides up to 50 percent of the easement fair market value.

To qualify, farmland must: be part of a pending offer from a State, tribe, or local farmland protection program; be privately owned; be large enough to sustain agricultural production; be accessible to markets for what the land produces; have adequate infrastructure and agricultural support services; and have surrounding parcels of land that can support long-term agricultural production.

The files below require Adobe Acrobat  or Microsoft Word
 

Additional Information:

Indiana Summary
Fact Sheet
Questions & Answers
Sponsor Application Package 2004
Sample Easement
Sample Easement.doc
Indiana Farmland Protection Plan

FRPP Policy

Forms:

SF-270 Request for Advance or Reimbursement
SF-1199A Direct Deposit Sign-Up
FFAS-12 Electronic Funds Transfer Hardship Waiver Request
SF-3881 ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form
IRS Form 8283

Program Contact:

Jim Dunaway, Soil Conservationist
NRCS, Indianapolis, IN
jim.dunaway@in.usda.gov

Additional Links:

Purdue Landuse Team
American Farmland Trust
Central Indiana land Trust Incorporated
Commissioner of Agriculture, Indiana Land Resources Council