To make a positive 

impact on your soil 

health, consider:

•	Residue management

•	Cover crops

•	Prescribed grazing

•	Nutrient management

•	Crop rotations

Consider these 

programs for 

assistance:

EQIP, AMA, CSP

To protect and 

improve water 

quality, consider:

•	Nutrient management

•	Integrated pest

management

•	Crop rotation

•	Filter strips

•	Riparian buffers

•	Wetland restoration

Consider these 

programs for 

assistance:

EQIP, AMA, CSP, 

ACEP

To maximize crop 

production, 

prevent nutrient 

loss and protect 

natural resources 

and water quality, 

consider:

•	Waste storage

structures and lagoons

•	Nutrient management

•	Compost facilities

•	Waste treatment

•	Prescribed grazing

Consider these

programs for

assistance:

EQIP 

To improve forage 

quality, control 

invasive species, and 

conserve habitat, 

consider:

•	Prescribed grazing

•	Pest management

•	Prescribed burning

•	Watering facilities

•	Brush management

Consider these

programs for

assistance:

EQIP, CSP, CRP, ACEP

To enhance, restore, 

manage, and protect 

fish and wildlife 

habitat, consider:

•	Upland/Wetland habitat

management

•	Wetland creation and

restoration

•	Forest stand improvement

•	Stream habitat

improvement

•	Prescribed grazing

•	Tree/Shrub establishment

Consider these 

programs for 

assistance:

EQIP, ACEP, CSP,

HFRP

To restore and 

protect forest 

resources and 

improve habitat, 

consider:

•	Tree planting

•	Forest stand

improvement, thinning

•	Prescribed burning

•	Tree/Shrub

establishment

Consider these 

programs for 

assistance:

EQIP, HFRP, CSP

To improve air quality 

and conserve energy, 

consider:

•	Residue management

•	Dust control

•	Cover crops

•	Conservation buffers

•	Windbreak/Shelterbelt

planting

•	Tree planting

•	Energy audits

Consider these

programs for

assistance:

EQIP, AMA, CSP

To reduce soil 

movement and 

nutrient runoff, and 

mitigate the effects 

of erosion from 

agricultural lands, 

consider:

•	Grassed waterways

•	Residue management

•	Grassed riparian buffers

•	Grade stabilization

structures

•	Contour buffer strips

•	Shelterbelts

•	Windbreaks

•	Field stripcropping

•	Prescribed grazing

Consider these 

programs for assistance:

EQIP, AMA, CSP 

Conservation programs for your land, watershed, and community

Improving air quality and 

conserving energy 

For More Information

Visit www.nrcs.usda.gov,

or find your local USDA Service Center at

http://offices.usda.gov

Conserving and 

improving soil health

Conserving water 

resources

To protect your 

streams and rivers, 

as well as wildlife 

habitat, consider:

•	Riparian buffers

•	Filter strips

•	Stream crossings

•	Stream bank stabilization/

Shoreline protection

•	Wetland restoration,

creation and protection

Consider these 

programs for 

assistance:

EQIP, AMA, CSP, 

ACEP

Protecting waterways from 

erosion and degradation

Establishing 

wildlife habitat

Managing 

forest lands Curbing erosion Managing manure Managing grazing lands

2014 FARM BILL: WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

private lands for wildlifedependent recreation, such as 

hunting, fishing, or birding.

Your Conservation Plan 

The NRCS staff is available to help 

you define resource concerns on your 

land and identify assistance 

opportunities available through Farm 

Bill programs. NRCS conservation 

professionals are available in nearly 

every county across the country and 

can help you develop a conservation 

plan based on your natural resource 

and operation goals. Through the 

conservation planning process, NRCS 

staff can identify and explain the 

Farm Bill programs that best match 

your natural resource objectives. 

Financial Assistance

All programs include Federal funds to 

assist with the costs associated with 

conservation activities. This assistance 

ranges from payments for 

conservation easements to financial 

assistance to help participants 

implement specific conservation 

practices on the land. 

Power of Partnerships

NRCS works with many partners to 

deliver conservation services and 

programs, such as local conservation 

districts, State natural resource and 

agriculture departments, producer 

cooperatives, and nongovernmental 

conservation organizations. These 

partners provide technical assistance, 

leverage the Federal investment, and 

help accelerate getting conservation 

on the ground.

What’s in it for you?

The 2014 Farm Bill provides America’s 

farmers, ranchers, and non-industrial forest 

landowners a package of voluntary 

programs for conserving natural resources. 

Technical and financial assistance helps 

agricultural producers implement 

conservation practices and activities that 

protect our waters, promote soil health, 

enhance wildlife habitat, improve air quality, 

and conserve energy. This guide introduces 

the conservation assistance available from 

the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural 

Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 

through the Farm Bill.

What’s new?

• Easement programs are consolidated 

into a single new Agricultural 

Conservation Easement Program 

(ACEP) with separate components for 

protecting wetlands and agricultural 

lands.

• The Environmental Quality Incentives 

Program (EQIP) includes more 

opportunities for wildlife habitat 

development and conservation and 

continues support for organic 

producers.

• The Conservation Stewardship Program 

(CSP) expands enrollment eligibility to 

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 

land that is in the last year of a CRP 

contract and lands enrolled in ACEP 

Agricultural Land Easements (formerly 

Farm and Ranch Lands Protection 

Program); and removes acreage 

limitations for forest land.

• Local expertise and partner networks 

extend conservation dollars further 

through the new Regional Conservation 

Partnership Program (RCPP).

• The Voluntary Public Access and Habitat 

Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) provides 

grants to State governments and Indian 

tribes to increase public access to 
What USDA Offers

All programs are subject to final USDA regulations. *Historically underserved participants may be eligible for increased payment rates up to 90%; EQIP offers up to 30%. 

frequentlyaskedquestions

When can I apply and how will my conservation program application be 

evaluated? 

Most conservation program applications are accepted on a continual basis, 

with specific cutoff dates for NRCS to rank and make funding decisions. All 

applications received in your area will be ranked following specific criteria for 

your location. Working with a local NRCS staff member, you can develop a 

conservation plan that provides alternatives for natural resource treatments 

relevant to the application ranking considerations in your area. You can select 

the level of treatment that best meets your individual needs, while improving 

your chances of being selected for funding.

If I enroll land in a conservation program, do I maintain ownership? Am I 

required to allow public access to my land?

Yes, you retain ownership of your land, and you are not required to allow public 

access to your land. The only exception is the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat 

Incentive Program, which provides grants to States and Indian tribes to compensate 

landowners who allow the public to access their land for recreational uses.

What types of wildlife habitat can I develop on my land? 

Practices and activities can be designed and managed to create habitat for 

specific species, such as turkey, quail, pheasants, songbirds, pollinators, bats, 

and other wildlife species. Applications that address habitat needs for 

threatened, endangered, or other species of concern may be given priority. 

I don’t own the land I farm but would like to apply for conservation 

assistance. Can I still get help?

Yes. Visit your local USDA Service Center, and our “5 Steps to Assistance” on 

the website at www.nrcs.usda.gov/getstarted. 

Are there other NRCS Farm Bill Conservation Programs that don’t fall under 

the categories of Financial Assistance, Easements or Partnerships listed on 

the chart?

Yes. Other Farm Bill programs include: Voluntary Public Access and Habitat 

Incentive Program (VPA-HIP); Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services 

Program (ACES); Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG); and Technical Service 

Providers (TSP).

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Program Aid - 2172 August 2015

AGRICULTURAL LAND EASEMENT COMPONENT

WETLANDS

Program Eligible Land Length of Payments Easements Producer Responsibilities What's New?

 Easements

 Partnerships

Agreement/Contract

Up to 10 years

5 years

Up to 10 years

Permanent or

the maximum

duration

authorized by

State law. 

Permanent,

30-year or the

maximum

authorized by

State law. 

30-year contracts

only on acreage

owned by an

Indian tribe.

10-year restoration

agreements,

30-year contracts,

and 30-year or

permanent

easements.

Partner

agreements up to

5 years; possible

12-month

extension.

Available to eligible

entities. The Federal

share is up to 50% of

fair market value or

up to 75% in cases of

special environmental

significance.

Easement

compensation based

upon the lowest of an

appraisal or areawide market analysis,

a geographic area

rate cap or a

landowner offer.

One-time, up-front

payment or up to 10

annual payments for

either easement

option or 30-year

contract.

Agricultural

Management

Assistance

(AMA) Program

Private or tribal agricultural land including

cropland, hayland, pastureland,

rangeland, grassland, and non-industrial

private forest land. Limited to 16 States.

Private or tribal agricultural land and nonindustrial private forestland.

Does not include land enrolled in the

Wetlands Reserve Easement component

of ACEP or the Conservation Security

Program.

Private, public, and tribal land in

agricultural production including

cropland, grassland, and non-industrial

private forestland. Does not include

land enrolled in CRP or WRE

component of ACEP.

Agricultural Land Easements (ALE)

must be on private and tribal land in

agricultural production including

cropland, grassland, and non-industrial

private forestland. Wetland reserve

easements (WRE) must be farmed

wetlands or wetlands converted prior to

December 23, 1985, and adjacent lands

that maximize wildlife benefits.

Forestland capable of supporting

habitat for a selected wildlife species.

Eligibility rules for CSP, EQIP, HFRP

and ACEP apply.

Payments support conservation

that helps manage risk and

address natural resource

concerns.

Annual payments are based on the

level of conservation stewardship.

A supplemental payment is

available for participants who

adopt a resource-conserving

crop rotation.

Payments for undertaking new

conservation management

systems or to cover a portion of

the cost of installing specific

conservation practices.

Payments to assist the eligible

entity to purchase the ALE. 

Eligible entities remain responsible

for other costs associated with

easement purchase, including

survey and closing costs.

Payments for easement purchase

and restoration costs. Up to 100%

of permanent easement value; up

to 75% for 30-year easements/

contracts/State-maximum duration

easements. Also, payments for up

to 100% of restoration costs for

permanent easements; up to 75%

for restoration costs of 30-year

easements/contracts.

Payments for both easement

purchase and restoration costs. 

Up to 100% of value for

permanent easements and up

to 75% of value for 30-year

easements/contracts. 

Restoration costs - up to 100%

for permanent easements, up

to 75% for 30-year easements/

contracts, and up to 50% for

10-year restoration agreements.

There are three funding pools:

State, National, and Critical

Conservation Areas. Funding for

projects through CSP, EQIP, HFRP,

and ACEP through selected

partner proposals.

Develop and follow an AMA plan of

operations that describes the conservation

and environmental objectives. Contribute

to installation costs.

Implement a conservation stewardship

plan that addresses resource concerns in

a comprehensive manner by installing and

adopting additional conservation activities

and improving, maintaining, and managing

existing activities.

Develop and follow EQIP plan of operations.

Incur installation and maintenance costs.

Additional requirements for animal feeding

operations and forestland contracts.

ALE cooperating entities must provide a

share equal to NRCS contribution.

Qualified charitable donations from the

landowner are allowed to provide up to

50% of that requirement.

Develop and implement an ALE easement

plan for ALE enrollment.

Comply with a wetlands reserve easement

plan that provides for the restoration and

maintenance of the wetland. Contribute to

restoration costs for 30-year easements

and contracts, and State-maximum

duration easements.

Develop and implement HFRP restoration

plan that promotes restoration, protection,

enhancement and maintenance of

forestland, aiding the recovery of

endangered and threatened species,

improving plant and animal biodiversity

and enhancing carbon sequestration.

Partners conduct outreach and may act on

behalf of eligible producers in applying for

and leveraging financial or technical

assistance and assess project’s effects.

Raises eligibility requirements to at

least two priority resource concerns.

Forestland cap removed. CRP land

may be enrolled in last year of CRP

contract. Additional term for renewal if

threshold for two additional priority

resource concerns met or two existing

priority resource concerns exceeded

by end of contract.

Incorporated the objectives of the

former Wildlife Habitat Incentive

Program.

Reduces length of prior land ownership

for WRE eligibility.

Authority for easement subordination,

modification, exchange, and

termination. 

Funding is discretionary and will be

decided on an annual basis. Expanded

land eligibility to Indian trust lands.

Combines former partnership

programs - Agricultural Water

Enhancement Program, Chesapeake

Bay Watershed Program, Cooperative

Conservation Partnership Initiative, and

Great Lakes Basin Program.

 Financial Assistance

Conservation

Stewardship

Program

Environmental

Quality

Incentives

Program (EQIP)

Regional

Conservation

Partnership

Program (RCPP)

NEW!

Healthy Forest

Reserve

Program (HFRP)

Agricultural

Conservation

Easement

Program (ACEP)

NEW!

Natural

Resources

Conservation

Service