Aug 11, 2010

2010 PACE Applications Selected for Funding

More than 5,000 acres of farmland will remain in agriculture and will be protected by permanent easements as part of the first set of applications recommended for funding through the Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) program.

At a recent meeting of the PACE advisory council, the council reviewed 36 applications and recommended that 16 applications move forward in the easement funding process. The applications were scored and ranked based on a number of evaluation criteria including farmland quality, consistency with local planning and zoning, water quality benefits, and community support.

Under the PACE program, the state agriculture department will provide up to 50 percent matching funds to cooperating entities to purchase permanent easements. While the landowner is compensated for the fair market value of the land, the landowner retains ownership and continues to farm but the easement permanently restricts non-agricultural development of the property. The easement remains with the land and all future landowners are bound by the terms of the easement.

What's next?

Before a conservation easement can be placed on the land, the landowners and local cooperating entities will work with the PACE program and in some instances, the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service Farm and Ranchland Protection Program, to ensure the land is properly protected. The department and the applicant will enter into a grant contract outlining the responsibilities of each party.

Applications that were not selected this round will have another opportunity for consideration in the 2011 grant cycle. At its Sept. 15 meeting, the PACE Council will review application materials and make recommendations for improvement based on suggestions and comments from landowners, cooperating groups and staff.

Application materials for the 2011 PACE grant cycle will be released later this year. The 2011 PACE application deadline will be in mid-February, 2011.