PA NRCS Announces Funding Available for Easement Programs

HARRISBURG, PA, Feb. 13, 2026- The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Pennsylvania is announcing a second round of fiscal year 2026 assistance opportunities for agricultural producers and private landowners interested in long-term protection through federal easement programs, including both the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) and Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Private landowners may sign up for the Wetland Reserve Easement (ACEP WRE) at their local USDA Service Center. Landowners interested in agricultural land easements funded through ACEP ALE and RCPP should apply through participating county preservation boards and land trusts.

While applications are accepted on a continuous basis, NRCS utilizes application cutoff periods to assess and rank applications based on their potential conservation impact. All easement applications need to be received by March 13, 2026, to be considered for this second round of funding for fiscal year 2026. Applications received after this date will be held and considered for subsequent rounds, as funding permits. 

Through conservation programs, NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to help producers and landowners make conservation improvements on their land that benefit natural resources, build resiliency, and contribute to the nation's broader effort to improve natural resource conditions on America's private lands. To learn more about the USDA easement programs, visit the USDA NRCS Easements web page at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/ale-agricultural-land-easements, or contact the PA NRCS Easement Programs Manager at [email protected].