Federal dollars funding conservation easements in Montana

For the first time ever, a well-established federal program is helping to fund new conservation easements in the Bitterroot Valley. The Federal Farm and Ranchlands Protection Program invested $6.5 million in conservation easements across Montana last year. Three of those were in the Bitterroot Valley. The Severson and Sunset Bench ranches in the Burnt Fork area east of Stevensville and the Downey family property up Willow Creek each qualified for funding under the federal program. "We're excited to see this program as a viable source for voluntary agricultural land conservation in the Bitterroot," said Gavin Ricklefs, executive director of the Bitter Root Land Trust. "It fits really well in the Bitterroot. It's nice to see those dollars coming here." The program focuses on conserving high-quality agricultural lands through conservation easements. The federal money is used to match other funding sources to pay for the easements. The program was established in the 2002 federal Farm Bill...more

What they don't own they still want to control.  There are land trusts who operate without federal or state money so this is one area Congress should look to cut.