Impacts of the Federal Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program: An Assessment Based on Interviews with Participating Landowners

Purpose Determine if the FRPP was achieving its stated purpose: “…to protect the agricultural use and related conservation values of eligible land by limiting nonagricultural use of that land.” Learn if the program was delivering other benefits

Methods Dr. Esseks coordinated landowner interviews AFT helped develop the questionnaire The Bureau for Sociological Research interviewed 506 landowners ̶ a 54% response Dr. Esseks analyzed responses and prepared report

Paths to Ownership

Landowner Characteristics Most were men 76% of all respondents were men, 24% women Among owner-operators, 81% men, 19% women Many will transfer their land in the next 20 years 71% are 56 or older 41% are 66 or older 3% were 35 or younger

Farm Characteristics Location Most of the protected farms are in the Northeast Distribution of the sample tracks entire list of program participants Fewest participants from the Plains Farm Size Average size was 352 acres Median was 140 acres Distribution by Farm Production Region RegionNumberPercentage Appalachia Corn Belt469.1 Lake States305.9 Mountain States Northeast Northern Plains102.0 Pacific States356.9 Southeast204.0 Southern Plains20.4 Total cases

Farm Characteristics Products Raised 84% grew field crops 64% used land for pasture 19% produced timber products or syrup 11% grew fruits, nursery or greenhouse crops Sales Relatively more operations fell into the higher sales categories Smaller share fell into bottom revenue group

Farm Characteristics Direct Marketing 42% marketed products directly to consumers 26% sold food directly to consumers vs. 6% of operators nationwide

FRPP Keeps Land Available for Agriculture Protected land is in active production 96% said at least some of their land was in agricultural use 70% said ¾ was being farmed 48% reported that all of their land was in production 70% of owners are also operators; proportion is even higher among farm purchasers

FRPP Improves Farm Viability 84% spent at least some of their proceeds for agricultural purposes 65% ranked an agricultural purpose as either their first or second largest expenditure Average easement payment received by these landowners was $535,287

FRPP Strengthens the Agricultural Sector

FRPP Encourages On-Farm Conservation 67% have a written conservation plan 75% had applied at least one practice 68% of owner- operators adopted practices to prevent erosion and protect water quality

FRPP Encourages On-Farm Conservation FRPP requires plans for highly erodible and certain forested parcels FRPP requires plans for highly erodible and certain forested parcels Landowners received technical assistance from the entity that holds their easement Landowners received technical assistance from the entity that holds their easement Easement proceeds enabled landowners to install and expand practices Easement proceeds enabled landowners to install and expand practices

Gives farmers the capital to purchase land 55% repaid loans on farm and ranch land they already owned or bought additional land Makes land more affordable at the outset 65% of protected farm purchasers said the price was lower than comparable unprotected land 30% of purchasers said they bought the protected land because it was affordable 37% said the easement helped them get a loan

61% of owners have succession plans 69% of those with plans reported that the next owner would be a farmer 92% of the identified successors are relatives 5% of those who sold easements reported that one of their goals was to facilitate transfer of ownership

12 young and beginning farmers purchased protected land 19 landowners rent their land to young and beginning farmers 56 young and beginning farmers sold easements 111 owners with identified successors said the next owner would be a young or beginning farmer

96% were satisfied 68% protected their land to save it for agriculture 72% said the program had helped them achieve their goals 47% said they would have been worse off if they had not sold an easement

F ARMLAND I NFORMATION C ENTER