C04 - ATTACHMENT 2B Exhibit 2.pdf
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- Attached to
- AREAWIDE MARKET ANALYSIS - NRCS IL
- Solicitation number
- 12FPC126Q0007
About this file
This document is an areawide market analysis exhibit for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Wetland Reserve Easement (ACEP-WRE) administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service for Fiscal Year 2027 in Illinois.
The analysis establishes three geographic rate areas in Illinois to determine geographical area rate caps (GARCs) used as a least-cost option for easement acquisition pricing, alongside appraised value/market analysis or landowner offers. The first two rate areas follow eco-regional boundaries established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: the northern two-thirds of Illinois comprises the Central Corn Belt Plains, and the southern one-third comprises the Interior River Valleys and Hills, with the dividing line running from the north line of Crawford County west along the northern county lines of Jasper, Clay, Marion, Clinton, and over to Randolph. A third rate area encompasses counties affected by the Chicago metropolitan region where higher land use demands drive up land prices. Within each geographic area, two land use classifications are identified: cropland (including tillable agricultural land capable of growing commodity crops, undeveloped Conservation Reserve Program land, and pasture/hay land for grazing) and non-cropland (including existing wetlands, forested areas, tree-developed Conservation Reserve Program land, and other lands incapable of growing commodity crops). These rate areas and classifications provide the framework for determining credible and defensible pricing for easement offers while allowing flexibility to consider local and regional factors.
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Exhibit 2
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Wetland Reserve Easement (ACEP-WRE)
Areawide Market Analysis Proposed Illinois Geographic Rate Areas
Fiscal Year 2027
Background:
The ACEP-WRE is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Each state has the opportunity to establish geographical area rate caps (GARC's) which can be used as a least cost option (along with appraised value/market analysis or landowner offer) for determining the Agency offer for easement acquisition. Each state has the flexibility to consider local and regional factors for the GARC's as long as the rates are determined by credible and defensible means.
Options for Geographic Rate Areas:
In consultation with the State Technical Committee, it was decided that Illinois NRCS would use two eco-regional boundaries (modified to match County lines) to determine geographic rate caps. Illinois is split with the northern two thirds occupying the Central Com Belt Plains and the southern one third occupying the Interior River Valleys and Hills (as described by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). The dividing line for the two regions is not distinct, but for the purpose of delineating the two regions we have established a line that runs from the north line of Crawford County west along the northern county lines of Jasper, Clay, Marion, Clinton and over to Randolph.
In addition to the two geographic areas following eco-region boundaries, a third area was designated by using the above-described methodology and applying it to an area consisting of counties affected by the highly populated Chicago metropolitan region where land use demands tend to drive up land prices.
Two land uses within the three geographic areas have been identified, cropland and non-cropland.
Cropland is defined as:
1. Tillable, agricultural land capable of growing commodity crops,
2. Conservation Reserve Program land that has NOT developed to trees, pasture and hay land that is used for the grazing or removal of pasture products.
Non-cropland is defined as:
1. Existing wetlands,
2. Forested areas,
3. Conservation Reserve Program land that has developed to trees or
4. Other lands that are incapable of growing commodity crops.
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .