Participating in the program. To participate in the Farmland Stewardship Program, an owner or operator of eligible agricultural lands may —

1.  contact Stewardship America and submit an application indicating interest in the Program and describing the owner’s or operator’s property, its resources, and their ecological and agricultural values (to do this, click here):

2.  allow Stewardship America or one of its Conservation Delivery Team partners (see list) to conduct an on-the-ground assessment of the property to be enrolled;

3.  work with Stewardship America and its Conservation Delivery Team partners to identify the conservation needs and opportunities of the property, and the services that the owner/operator is willing to provide;

4.  as part of #3 above, determine the purpose and objectives of the proposed agreement and a list of services to be provided, or a management plan to be implemented, or both, under the proposed agreement;

5.  allow Stewardship America to submit the application and list of services to the appropriate agencies for approval;

6.  enter into an agreement that: 

• details the purpose and objectives of the agreement;

• details the services to be provided, or management plan to be implemented, or both; and

• requires compliance with the other terms of the agreement, as negotiated between the owner/operator, Stewardship America and the agencies involved.

APPLICATION ON BEHALF OF AN OWNER OR OPERATOR. A designated contracting agency, such as Stewardship America, may submit an application on behalf of an owner or operator to the appropriate government agencies if the contracting agency has secured the consent of the owner or operator to enter into an agreement.

DELEGATION OF RESPONSIBILITY. The Secretary of Agriculture may delegate responsibility for reviewing and approving applications from or on behalf of an owner or operator to the state department of agriculture or other designated agency in the state in which the property is located, provided that the designated agency follows the criteria for reviewing and approving applications as established by the Secretary and consults with the agencies with management authority and responsibility for the resources affected on properties on which Farmland Stewardship Agreements are negotiated and assembled.