Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund Program FAQ

Web page: https://agr.georgia.gov/georgia-farmland-conservation-fund-program

Direct link to application: https://agr.georgia.gov/sites/default/files/documents/financial-assistance/farmland-conservation-program-application.pdf

Email: gafarmlandconservation@agr.georgia.gov  

Interested landowners will need to reach out to a qualified easement holder (state agency, federal agency, county, municipality, or nonprofit organization) to reach an agreement for the purchase of a conservation easement. Then, the qualified easement holder will complete the application with the landowner.

Qualified easement holders will have knowledge of the easement process and can answer a lot of questions for landowners. 

The Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund Program is not an easement program, it is a financial assistance program that will award matching funding for the purchase of an easement.

• Applications are due to the Georgia Department of Agriculture by May 20, 2026.
• Successful applicants will be notified of their award in August 2026. 
• If selected for an award, the funds will be awarded to the easement holder for the purchase of the landowner’s development rights. Therefore, the landowner will be the end receiver of the funding in exchange for his/her development rights. 

• Individual landowners will need to work with one of these entities in order to complete the application. The landowner will receive the financial benefit of the program and the qualified entity will hold the easement to the land.
• A qualified easement holder is defined by Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 44-10-42(10)).
• There is a list of land trusts available on the program webpage under “Resources” for the convenience of applicants, but applicants are required to find and work with a qualified easement holder on their own. 
  • Applicants are in no way required to use someone from this list if they have another preferred entity to work with.

• This is a competitive process. The Department will not be able to provide individualized feedback on an applicant’s unique situation or how various aspects of the application will be considered or scored. 
• There are no limitations in the statute governing the GFCTF Program other than land being used for agricultural purposes and is not already receiving a benefit for conservation. 
• Additional limitations can be determined by the qualified easement holder.

No, there is no minimum acreage requirement.

If you are already received a financial benefit for a parcel of land, you are not able to also receive additional benefit from this program for the same parcel of land. 

We cannot provide any type of estimate on the award amounts for the program. The program is a competitive application process, and each site will be unique.