May 2026

NRCS Announces Second Application Sign-ups for Agricultural Land Easements

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a second national deadline for agricultural producers and landowners to apply for fiscal year 2026 assistance in the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
  
  
• The new deadline for entities to apply is May 29, 2026. NRCS is providing up to $200 million in funding for the application period for agricultural land easements.
  
  
• Learn more about ACEP. 

Farmland preservation in the news

• North Olympic Land Trust Secures Big Red Barn Farm, launches effort to permanently protect | North Olympic Land Trust
  
  
• WA homeowners, farmers say their land is being stolen for data centers | The Seattle Times
  
  
• An Agricultural Viability Action Plan for Puget Sound | American Farmland Trust
  
  
• Data centers replace fruit orchards in changing Central WA | The Seattle Times

Agriculture in the news

• ‘Our new normal’: WA confronts another year of drought | Washington State Standard
  
  
• State launches Washington’s Water Future | Methow Valley News
  
  
• Local Flour, At Scale | Offrange
  
  
• Maine’s Cambodian Community Is Keeping Invasive Crabs at Bay | Civil Eats
  
  
• Pasco inland port plan links Tri-Cities to Puget Sound | Tri-City Herald
  
  
• Wheat, corn, soybean prices are below breakeven, signaling fourth year of losses | Capital Press
  
  
• Aquaculture's climate fix is growing right next to the fish | Anthropocene
  
  
• Yellow-legged hornet seen as bigger threat than ‘murder hornet’ | Capital Press
  
  
• Yellow-legged hornet quietly taking hold in the Southeast | Capital Press

Resources and Trainings

• Intro to AFT's Land Transfer Support Program | Recorded Webinar |WACD and AFT
  
  
• Farm Transfer Toolkit | American Farmland Trust - AFT has developed a printable version of their Farm Transfer Toolkit.

Events

• 2026 Farm Walks | WSU Food Systems Program and Tilth Alliance
  
  
• Northwest Land Camp | WALT & COLT - June 23-26 in Florence OR.

Job Announcements

• Job Postings | State Conservation Commission
  
  
• Careers | American Farmland Trust
  
  
• Jobs | Washington Association of Land Trusts

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The Washington State Conservation Commission administers the Office of Farmland Preservation to address the rapid loss of working farm and forest lands in our state. Learn more: www.scc.wa.gov/ofp.