Basic Eligibility Rules
Both the landowner and the land must be eligible. For the Wetland track, the land must meet at least one of the following designations: Farmed wetlands or converted wetlands together with adjacent lands that are dependent on the wetland functions;
Agricultural lands that were altered by flooding so as to develop and retain wetland values and functions;
Former or degraded wetlands; For the ag land track, the land must meet the following requirements: Is subject to a written pending offer by an eligible entity to enter into an easement;
Contains at least 50% prime or unique farmland that is used for the production of specific food and fiber crops, contains historical or archaeological resources, protects grazing uses, or further a state or local policy that is consistent with the goals of the ALE; and
Is cropland, rangeland, grassland, pastureland, nonindustrial private forestland, or located in an area that has historically been dominated by grassland.
Wetlands that are currently enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program;
Riparian areas that, if restored, would link together protected wetlands; or
Cropland or grassland that was used for agricultural production prior to flooding.
Available funding for FY26 (national total)
$625,000,000 (farm bill budget authority)
Practices covered
helps landowners, land trusts, and other entities protect, restore, and enhance wetlands or protect working farms and ranches through conservation easements.
Cost share requirements
ACEP participants receive financial and technical assistance in exchange for enrolling their lands in one of the two tracks. NRCS will provide the eligible entity up to 50% of the fair market value of the enrolled land
length of contracts
Wetlands easements are either 30 years in length or permanent. In general, agricultural easements last either into perpetuity, or for the maximum duration allowed by state law.
program established
Created in 2014, ACEP is a conservation easement program that combines three previously separate easement programs — the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), Grassland Reserve Program (GRP), and Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP).
share of proposals funded over time
42 percent of ag land easement proposals accepted in FY2020, but only six percent of wetland easements