AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM (ACEP) Program Description

The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, provides funding and technical assistance to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands and working agricultural lands through conservation easements. Established by the 2014 Farm Bill, the program aims to preserve the agricultural viability of land and its related conservation values, which are noted as critical for greenhouse gas sequestration and climate resilience.

• The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) was established by the 2014 Farm Bill to protect and restore wetlands and agricultural lands, which are described as "crucial for absorbing and storing greenhouse gases and building resilience to climate change impacts."
• Funding for ACEP is provided through multiple legislative sources: the 2018 Farm Bill authorized mandatory annual funding of $450 million through fiscal year 2023, and the Inflation Reduction Act authorized $1.4 billion distributed between fiscal years 2023 and 2026.
• Agricultural land easements are cost-shared agreements where the Federal share generally does not exceed 50 percent of the fair market value, although the Secretary may provide up to 75 percent for "grassland of special environmental significance."
• Wetland reserve easements are available as 30-year easements, permanent easements, or easements for the maximum duration allowed under State laws; Indian tribes also have the option of 30-year contracts.
• The program prohibits the acquisition of easements on land owned by U.S. agencies (except land held in trust for Indian tribes), land owned in fee title by a State or local government, or land where the program's purposes would be undermined by conditions such as "risk of hazardous substances."
• Eligible entities for agricultural land easements include agencies of State or local government, Indian tribes, and specific non-profit organizations, such as those described in section 501(c)(3) of title 26.

APA

Bertrand, S. (2023). AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM (ACEP) Program Description. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/files/Farm-Bill-2023-Side-by-Side-Agricultural-Conservation-Easement-Program-ACEP.pdf

Chicago

Bertrand, Savannah. AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM (ACEP) Program Description. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2023. https://www.eesi.org/files/Farm-Bill-2023-Side-by-Side-Agricultural-Conservation-Easement-Program-ACEP.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bertrand |first1=Savannah |title=AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM (ACEP) Program Description |publisher=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |date=24 February 2023 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/Farm-Bill-2023-Side-by-Side-Agricultural-Conservation-Easement-Program-ACEP.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bertrand2023agricultural, author = {Bertrand, Savannah}, title = {{AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM (ACEP) Program Description}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2023}, month = feb, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/Farm-Bill-2023-Side-by-Side-Agricultural-Conservation-Easement-Program-ACEP.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }