CFCP has suspended publication of our newsletter until further notice to allow program staff to focus on our core work of funding projects in cooperation with our conservation partners. Past editions of Focus on Farmland are available upon request at cfcp@conservation.ca.gov.
The California Farmland Conservancy Program (CFCP) funded easements on more than 58,000 acres* of the state's best agricultural land between 1996 and 2016.
This permanent conservation was accomplished at just under $2,990 per acre, with funds contributed by CFCP, federal, state, and local partners; as well as donations from landowners. These partnerships are helping to implement the conservation planning goals of California communities. CFCP's share of the total is just over $1,460 per acre.
Additionally, 39 planning grants have enabled California Land Trusts to begin or expand their work into agricultural conservation. An average of just over $48,000 in CFCP funds was matched by another $24,000 per project. This work continues to pay dividends as Land Trusts gain experience in stewarding agricultural conservation easements.
* Completed easements includes projects that have closed escrow, completed reporting requirements, and have had all final associated costs paid.
A map depicting easements funded in each county (PDF) is also available.
CFCP continues to complete easement projects around California. The projects represent the range of California's premier crops and almost all are located on Prime agricultural soils.
A total of 25 easements have been completed since January 2011. The USDA Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (formerly the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program) partnered with CFCP on many of the completed easements.
San Joaquin Valley
Fresno County - 89 acres of tree fruit near Kingsburg.
Kern County - 571 acres of almonds near Wasco. A celebration of this easement and its neighboring easement was held in February 2012.
Kings County - 153 acres of almonds and pistachios near Hanford.
Merced County - 212 acres of almonds near the City of Merced, and 244 acres of sweet potatoes near Livingston.
San Joaquin County - 174 acres of walnut and cherry orchards near Stockton
and 253 acres of walnuts near Lockford.
Stanislaus County - 151 acres of almonds and grapes near Modesto.
A poster of the easements in Merced, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus counties is available.
San Francisco Bay and Central Coast
Contra Costa County - 132 acres of vegetable crops near Brentwood.
Marin County - Near the town of Tomales, two projects included more than 1,000 acres of coastal rangeland land, and a 440 acre ranch.
Monterey County - 103 acres of grapes near Greenfield
Santa Barbara County - 395 acres of vegetables, nuts, and seed crops near Lompoc.
Santa Cruz County - 75 acres of apples near Watsonville.
Solano County - 595 acres of crop land near Winters.
Sacramento Valley, Northern California and Eastern Sierra
Butte County - 145 acres of orchards near Chico and
96 acres of peaches near Gridley.
Mendocino County - A combined 209 acres of purchased and donated easements of farmland near Ukiah
Mono County - 719 acres of pasture near Bridgeport.
Siskiyou County - More than 4,000 acres of alfalfa, pasture and grazing land near Etna.
Sutter County - 189 acres of rice and waterfowl habitat near Lincoln,
376 acres of walnuts and annual vegetables near the Sutter Buttes, and 161 acres of rice near Yuba City.
Tehama County - 530 acres of alfalfa, corn, and various other crops near Red Bluff.
Yolo County - 237 acres of walnuts and prunes near Winters
Bond-Funded Projects (Proposition 40)
The California Farmland Conservancy Program (CFCP) completed 35 agricultural conservation easement projects and 10 planning grants with Proposition 40 bond funding. This report, which provides brief summaries, pictures and maps of each completed project, was updated in November 2010 and will be revised periodically as additional projects are completed.
Bond-Funded Projects (Proposition 12)
For information about the 39 agricultural easements and eight planning grant projects completed by CFCP using Proposition 12 funding, download the report below. The report features a statistical summary, maps, and photos of individual easement projects.
American Farmland Trust | Land Trust Alliance | CA Farm Bureau | CA Rangeland Trust
CA Coastal Conservancy | Wildlife Conservation Board | Great Valley Center | Farm & Ranch Lands Protection Program
