Parcel Eligibility and Ranking

USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program

 Parcel Eligibility and Ranking Form

2009

Landowner Name and Address

Cooperating Entity Name and Address

State in which the Parcel is Located

County in which Parcel is Located

Locality (Town/Township) in which the Parcel is Located

Is the Landowner AGI Eligible (Y/N)? 

Is the Landowner HEL Eligible (Y/N)? 

Is the Landowner WC Eligible (Y/N)? 

Does the Parcel have 50% prime, unique, and important farmland? (Y/N)

Does the Parcel have historic or archeological resources? (Y/N)

Does the Parcel have land that supports the policy of a state or local farm land protection program?

(Attach policy cited)

Is this Parcel eligible? (Y/N) At lease one of the 3 questions directly above this question must be answered YES to be eligible. 

Has a Conservation Plan been developed and signed by the landowner of parcel? Y/N

Name of NRCS Employee Confirming Landowner Eligibility 

Signature of NRCS Employee Confirming Landowner Eligibility

Is the Cooperating Entity Eligible (Y/N)?

Name of NRCS Employee Confirming Entity Eligibility 

Signature of NRCS Employee Confirming Entity Eligibility

Does Cooperating Entity have a Pending Offer for the Parcel (Y/N)?

Name of NRCS Employee Confirming Parcel Offer

Signature of NRCS Employee Confirming Parcel Offer

Name of NRCS Employee Confirming Land Eligibility 

Signature of NRCS Employee Confirming Land Eligibility

Nationally Ranking Factors  

Ranking Factor and Scaling

Maximum Points

Points

Percent of prime, unique and important farmland  soils in the parcel to be protected  (0 points for 50 percent or less, 4 points for every percent above 50 percent) 

200

Percent of cropland, pastureland, or grassland, in the parcel to be protected

(0 points for 33 percent or less, 3 points for every percent above 33 percent) 

200

Ratio of the total acres of land in the parcel to be protected to average farm size in the county according to the most recent USDA Census of Agriculture (www.agcensus.usda.gov) (0 points for a ratio of 1 or less, 50 points for ratios of 1.0 to 2.0, 100 points for ratios of greater than 2.0) 

100

Decrease in the percentage of acreage of farm land in the county in which the parcel is located between the last two USDA Censuses of Agriculture

(www.agcensus.usda.gov) (0 points for decrease of 0 percent or less, 50 points for decreases of 0 to 5 percent, 100 points for decrease of 5 to 10 percent 50 points for decreases of 10 to 15 percent, 0 points for decreases of more than 15 percent)

100

Percent population growth in the county as documented by the United States Census (www.census.gov)

(0 points for growth rate of less than the state growth rate, 50 points for growth rate of 1 to 2 times the state growth rate, 100 points for growth rate of 2 to 3 times the state growth rate, 0 points for growth rate of more than 3 times the state growth rate)

100

Population density (population per square mile) as documented by the most recent United States Census (www.census.gov)

(0 points for population density less than the state population density, 50 points for population density of 1 to 1.9 times the state population density, 100 points for population density of 2 to 2.9 times the state population density, 0 points for population density of more than >3 times the state population density)

100

Proximity of the parcel to other protected land, including military installations (0 points for less than 250 acres of protected land within a mile of the boundaries of the parcel, 50 points for 250-500 acres of protected land within  a mile of the boundaries of the parcel, 100 points for 501 acres or more of protected land within a mile of the boundaries of the parcel)

100

Proximity of the parcel to other agricultural operations and infrastructure

(0 points for less than 250 acres of agricultural land within a mile of the boundaries of the parcel, 50 points for 250-500 acres of agricultural land within  a mile of the boundaries of the parcel, 100 points for 501 acres or more of agricultural land within a mile of the boundaries of the parcel)

100

Total Points for Nationally Mandated Ranking Factors

1000

 State Ranking Factors 
 

Contains a historical or archaeological resource on the State or National Register, or formally eligible for the National Register. 

Yes - 100 points   No - 0 points

100

Group  Acres                  Relative Value               Adjusted Value

1         ______     x              _________     =         ____________

2         ______     x              _________     =        ____________

3         ______     x             _________      =        ____________

4         _______   x             _________      =        ____________

5         ______     x              _________     =        ____________

6         ______     x              _________     =        ____________

7         ______     x              _________     =        ____________

8         ______     x               _________    =        ____________

10       ______     x               _________    =        ____________

11       ______     x               _________    =        ____________

12       ______     x               _________    =        ____________

        _______                                                  _________

      Total Acres                                     Total Adjusted Value

Total Adjusted Value            

Total Acres                        X      2 points    =    ______________

                                                                               Total Points

200

If your county has a Voluntary Agricultural District or Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District:

Is this parcel a member of such VAD or EVAD?

Yes – 100 Points

No – 0 points

OR

If your county does not have a Voluntary Agricultural District or Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District:  Claim  50 points

100

Does this parcel’s owner have a Farm Business Plan or Farm Transition Plan?

Yes – 100 points,  No – 0 points  (Enclose copy of plan)

100

Capital Investment in Farm Operation – Does not include dwellings on the parcel except for employee housing. Substantial capital investment made within:

Last 0-2 years – 200 points

Last 0-5 years – 150 points

Last 5-10 years – 100 points

Last 10-15 years – 50 points

No substantial investment within above criteria - 0 points

200

Total Points for State Mandated Ranking Factors

700

Total Points

1700