Deadline extension for NJ's agricultural conservation program

Apr 30, 2024

By Farms.com

The New Jersey Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has extended the deadline for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Agricultural Land Easement (ACEP-ALE) applications. This final signup is a significant opportunity for stakeholders to participate in the fiscal year 2024 funding round.

The ACEP-ALE initiative aims to safeguard the agricultural viability and conservation values of farmlands by limiting their conversion to non-agricultural uses. The program targets federally recognized Indian Tribes, state or local government units, and NGOs that have established farmland protection programs.

These entities are eligible for federal funding that covers up to 50% of the appraised value of the conservation easements. For grasslands of special significance, the support increases to 75%. Applicants must show a dedication to long-term conservation, including the capability to acquire, manage, and enforce easements, along with sufficient staffing and financial resources.

The application process is stringent, requiring complete and properly executed submissions by the July 1, 2024, deadline. Prospective applicants should send their packages via email or traditional mail, ensuring all required documents are included as specified on the official State ACEP website.

This program not only aims to preserve valuable agricultural lands but also supports the operational needs of organizations committed to conservation, ensuring the sustained use of these lands for agricultural purposes backed by the USDA.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.