Ensuring Success in Navigating the NRCS Ag Land Easement Program and Appraisal
Review process
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program - ACEP Agricultural Land Easement (ALE)
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program - ACEP Agricultural Land Easement (ALE)
18 Months
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program - ACEP Agricultural Land Easement (ALE)
Agricultural Land Easement Plan • Describe activities which promote the long-term viability of
the land to meet purposes for which easement was acquired • Address the Purposes for which Easement was acquired
‒ Loss of prime farmland ‒ Continue agricultural viability ‒ Grasslands and grazing uses
• May Include a Farm or Ranch Succession Plan ‒ Does not have to be a formal/industry succession plan ‒ Provides a documentation of discussion of succession strategy ‒ Provide a future development of formal plan for succession
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program - ACEP Agricultural Land Easement (ALE)
Agricultural Land Easement Plan (ALEP)
Recommended Practices
• Addresses resource concerns identified in onsite visit
• Practices identified by landowner/entity to address their conservation priorities
• Practices identified in other documents
Required Practices
• Resulted in the project selection or determination of eligibility
• Identified on ALE ranking sheet
• Deed required practices ‒ Historic site care for
easements with historical resources
Agricultural Land Easement Plan (ALEP)
• Required component plans ‒ A grasslands management plan is required if the parcel
contains grassland or meets land eligibility for grassland ‒ A conservation compliance plan is required if parcel
contains Highly Erodible Land (HEL) ‒ A forest management plan is required if the parcel
contains contiguous forest that exceeds the greater of 40 acres or 20 percent of the total easement area
Conservation Values
Perpetuity
Conservation Easement
Closing
ALE Plan
Baseline
Review & Approval of the ALE Plan
Kristy Oates
NRCS State Resource Conservationist
Appraisals
• USPAP or USFLA (Yellow Book)
• Due to NRCS 120 days prior to planned closing
• Specifications included as Exhibit to Cooperative Agreement
• Each Appraisal must have a technical review
• Appraisals for easements >$1 Million will have a final review by NRCS National Appraiser
• Effective Dates • Within 6 months of Cooperative Agreement date; or • Within 12 months of closing
Slide 10
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program - ACEP Agricultural Land Easement (ALE)
210-240-3995
Dugger, Canaday, Grafe, Inc.
Valbridge Property Advisors
ACEP-ALE Appraisal Specs & Scope
Highest and Best Use
Sales Comparison
Value “Before”
Easement Description
Value “After”
Easement Value
Land Characteristics
Market Area Land Characteristics
Most Feasible and Probable Use “Before”
Most Feasible and Probable Use “After”
Comparable Sales
Identify degree of comparability
Quantitative Adjustments for different
characteristics
Qualitative Adjustments for different
characteristics
Value “Before”
Analyze the Requirements of the
Easement How different from market
Describe Market Reaction
Conclusions about easement effects, if
any
Discussion about Comparable Sales with
Easements
Present Paired Sales Discussion
Discuss range of Discounts
Discuss Sales Comparison Approach in
“After” Condition
Discuss Discount Rate Range
Conclude “After” Value
Difference Between “Before” and “After”
"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD)."
Claude Ross
Natural Resources Specialist
101 South Main
Temple, Texas 76501
254.742.9822
NRCS Programs website: http://www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov/programs Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/NRCSTexas Like on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/USDANRCSTexas Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/USDANRCSTexas