Farmland Access Act

The Farmland Access Act establishes a new "buy-protect-sell" mechanism within the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program to help transfer protected farmland to active farmers and ranchers. It allows eligible entities - such as land trusts, tribes, or local governments - to purchase land, secure an agricultural easement to protect it, and then transfer ownership to a farmer or rancher within three years (with possible extensions). If the transfer isn’t completed, the eligible entities must reimburse the federal government for the easement cost. The bill also permits multiple eligible entities to jointly apply for program funds and ensures buy-protect-sell transactions follow the same rules as other program transactions.