Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund opens application period; $2 million seed appropriation announced

The Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund is accepting applications, Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper told the House Agriculture Committee.

"Applications can be submitted to us at the department," Harper said, noting the General Assembly provided a $2 million appropriation to start the program and the department's council has been finalizing program rules since the law passed.

Harper said the program is designed to protect agricultural land through easements and will operate as a match program with federal dollars; the match currently is 50/50, and the House Agriculture Committee's pending farm bill language could move the federal match to 65%. He said the application period closes May 20.

The application must be submitted by a qualified easement holder in partnership with the landowner; Harper said the department is finalizing and will soon publish the list of entities that will be eligible to hold easements and help landowners apply.

Harper described the Fund as a longer-term tool to protect agricultural land for production purposes and national-security considerations tied to having available farmland. The department will post application materials and guidance on its site and distribute materials to stakeholders.