NRCS-WA to host 2027 ACEP-ALE kickoff workshop

The Natural Resources Conservation Service in Washington (NRCS-WA) is hosting an informational workshop Nov. 18, 2026, from 9-11:30 a.m. in preparation for the Fiscal Year 2027 Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP-ALE) sign up. 

Through ACEP-ALE, NRCS provides financial assistance to eligible partners for purchasing perpetual Agricultural Land Easements that protect the agricultural use and conservation values of eligible land. In the case of working farms, the program helps farmers and ranchers keep their land in agricultural production. The program also protects grazing uses and related conservation values by conserving grassland, including rangeland, pastureland, and shrubland. Eligible partners include American Indian tribes, state and local governments, and nongovernmental organizations that have farmland, rangeland, or grassland protection programs.

Panelists from the NRCS-WA programs staff will discuss ACEP-ALE basics from application to closing. NRCS staff will also discuss program nuances for Fiscal Year 2027 including the application sign-up deadline, an overview of the ALE application submission procedures, application map requirements, and the anticipated FY27 program timeline. Panelists from USDA’s Farm Service Agency will discuss eligibility requirements for program participants and how to obtain a receipt for service. The Land Trust Alliance (LTA) will also present on application assistance to provide land trusts with extra staffing capacity. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to engage with panelists during a facilitated question-and-answer session following the presentations.

The workshop will be held via Microsoft Teams. Registration is not required. To access the event, visit nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/washington/news/nrcs-washington-to-host-fiscal-year-2027-acep-ale-kickoff-workshop.