GAINESVILLE — Crestview area land owners may be eligible for assistance with grasslands, wetlands or working lands protection.
Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack said that $350 million is available to help landowners protect and restore key farmlands. The funding is provided through the Agricultural Conservation Easements Program, administered by United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Native American tribes, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations that have farmland or grassland protection programs are eligible to partner with NRCS to purchase conservation easements.
Eligible landowners can enroll in a permanent or 30-year easement. Tribal landowners have the option of enrolling in 30-year contracts, too.
Jan. 15 is the deadline to apply; agreements will be evaluated starting in late August.
Applications are available at the Crestview NRCS office, 934 N. Ferdon Blvd. The phone number is 682-2416.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview applications available for grasslands protection