Great news for farmland protection! In a major step toward preserving Georgia’s agricultural lands, the Georgia Department of Agriculture (DoA) has closed the doors on its first application period for the Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund Program, created through 2023’s Georgia Farmland Conservation Act. The 2026 application period opened on February 20 and closed on May 20.
The program offers matching grants to qualified easement holders who seek to permanently protect farmland from development through voluntary conservation easements. These funds will be awarded based on project proposals reviewed by the Georgia DoA and approved by the Georgia Farmland Advisory Council.
Since late 2024, Georgia Conservancy President Katherine Moore has served on the Georgia Farmland Advisory Council, which advises on program implementation. Her involvement follows years of Georgia Conservancy advocacy and research through our Georgia Now and Forever initiative, which revealed Georgia lost approximately 2.6 million acres of farmland between 1974 and 2016.
The Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund Program aims to protect all farmland, especially land at risk of development, which would otherwise fragment our agricultural landscape. The application process also prioritizes supporting water quality, habitat conservation, and climate resilience while considering current ag use, soil health, viewsheds, and alignment with local plans.
The Georgia Conservancy—instrumental in the program’s formation—emphasized the importance of a fair, accessible application process and equitable geographic distribution of funds.
With nearly 30 other states running similar programs, Georgia’s new effort is poised to protect working farms and support rural economies for generations to come.