Connecticut Traditional Farmland Preservation Program

The traditional Farmland Preservation Program (FPP) is the primary preservation program administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture. Typically it is a good fit for preserving larger (>30 acres) farms that have a significant quantity of cropland and prime and important soils as defined by the United State Department of Agriculture.

Applications to the Connecticut Farmland Preservation Program are submitted voluntarily by property owners and may be considered by the Commissioner of Agriculture following an evaluation based on objective scoring criteria. The criteria utilized to score applications include:

1. Acres of cropland

2. Crop yields per acre

3. Quantity of land classified as having prime and important farmland soils

4. Percentage of cropland that contains prime and important farmland soils

5. Methods of marketing commodities produced on the farm

6. Amount of other active farmland located in proximity to the farm

7. Agricultural support services available in proximity to the farm

8. Protection of the farm must be consistent with the State Conservation and Development Policies Plan for the State Of Connecticut

9. Intensive development near the farm and an excessive cost of development rights acquisition negatively affect the score, and

10. For protection projects involving USDA Agricultural Land Easement funds, farms may not have more than 67% non-cropland and must have at least 50% prime or important soils.

How the Program Works

1. Landowners may apply to the program voluntarily.

2. The application is evaluated according to state regulation criteria. If the farm meets minimum scoring criteria, the Commissioner may accept the application. 

3. Configuration of the application and specifics of the easement are negotiated and agreed to by the land owner and Commissioner of Agriculture. 

4. The farm is appraised for the unrestricted market value and the market agricultural value, the difference between the two indicating the value of the development rights. 

5. The appraisals are reviewed by the Commissioner who may negotiate anywhere from a gift of, to the full value of the development rights.

6. An agreement letter is presented from the Commissioner to the land owner representing the agreed upon price. The letter is reviewed and approved by the Attorney General.

7. A detailed report is submitted to the State Properties Review Board for review and approval. 

8. A notice of application is filed with the town clerk of the town where the farm is located.

9. Funds are acquired for the acquisition, and an A-2 survey, title insurance, and title search are obtained.

10. Upon completion of due diligence, the conveyance of development rights deed is executed and a check for the development rights acquisition processed. After all the documents are approved by the Attorney General, a closing is held and the documents and maps are recorded in the local land records and with the Secretary of State.

11. Department of Agriculture staff on an annual basis will reach out to the land owners to conduct stewardship reports and visits.

Fill out the application below and submit to:

Farmland Preservation Program

Connecticut Department of Agriculture

450 Columbus Blvd., Suite 703,

Hartford, CT

06103

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