NRCS Announces Second Deadline for Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Sign-ups

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced a second national deadline of May 29, 2026, for agricultural producers and landowners to apply for fiscal year 2026 assistance through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program. Although NRCS accepts applications on a continuous basis, NRCS uses cutoff periods to assess and rank applications based on their potential conservation impact. All applications must be received by May 29, 2026, to be considered in the second round of funding for fiscal year 2026. This program provides cost-share assistance to eligible entities to acquire easements from qualifying landowners, preserving agricultural use, including grazing, and protecting associated conservation values on eligible land.