The Athens Land Trust is processing paperwork to submit the Oconee County farm of Carole Ludwig for protection following an announcement earlier this month that the federal government is accepting applications under the new Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.

Ludwig’s livestock farm,1510 Old Farmington Road in the south of the county, was selected by the Farmland Preservation Ranking Committee late last year after the Board of Commissioners took over review responsibility for the county’s long-successful farmland protection program.

Laura Hall, conservation director at the Athens Land Trust, told me yesterday she is working to get the paperwork nominating the farm ready by the June 6 deadline set by Acting State Conservationist Greg Kist on behalf of the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia.

Sharon Holbrooks, conservation easement specialist with the Athens office of NRCS, told me in an email message today that each state’s recommendations for projects to be funded are due in the national NRCS headquartes by July 11.

The national office then will inform the state office of the amount of funding available, she said.

For more, visit Oconee County Observations.