Conservation Options

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Conservation Options

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ASA offers several options to landowners

ASA offers several options to landowners who are interested in conserving their land for future agricultural and forestry uses. In addition to the landowner’s own conservation goals, there are other factors affecting which option may be available. These include the property’s physical features, its conservation attributes and location, and funding availability. ASA evaluates each potential project according to specific conservation criteria, in addition to whether the property lies within one of our priority areas, as outlined in our Farmland Conservation Plan.

Purchase of Development Rights

Conservation easements can be donated or sold. Depending upon funding availability, ASA may purchase the conservation easement from the landowner (also called purchase of development rights or PDR). The purchase price of the easement is determined by an appraisal prepared by a New York State certified appraiser. The appraisal uses comparable sales and includes a “before” easement valuation and an “after” easement valuation. The difference between the values is the value of the conservation easement or development rights.

Private Bargain Sale

If a property does not qualify for the state farmland protection grant program, but is a working farm containing good soil resources, a bargain sale easement may be a possibility.

Donated Easements

A landowner can also choose to donate a conservation easement to ASA. There are many reasons why people choose to donate easements, including estate planning and family consensus-building between generations, state and federal income tax deductions, state property tax credits, desire to leave a legacy to future generations, or simply because they feel it is the “right thing to do” as stewards of the land.

Donation of Land (tradeland)

One of the greatest gifts to ASA is what is referred to as a tradeland. These are lands that people donate outright or bequeath to ASA. ASA becomes the owner of the property at the time of conveyance or upon death if conveyed in a will.

Glossary of Terms

Appraisal

The value given in a report prepared by a professional appraiser that provides an estimate on the fair market value of the property or conservation easement. A “qualified” appraisal is one prepared to substantiate the value of a donated property or easement, and meets Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requirements.