Rhode Island Receives $6.3M for Farmland Preservation
Published on Friday, November 06, 2026
PROVIDENCE, RI – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announces that RI has been awarded $6.355M for farmland preservation projects by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). RI’s project was one of 42 projects selected nationwide to help overcome conservation challenges on agricultural land. The funding will support the RI Farmland Legacy Partnership project, a new farmer-focused effort to provide financial assistance to farmland owners to enable producer contracts to keep working lands in working hands.
Snake Den Farm in Johnston.
“This federal conservation funding will help preserve open space across the state,” said Senator Jack Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee. “Rhode Island farmers can apply for this RCPP funding to boost their operations and conserve natural resources. The RCPP funding offers farmers the opportunity to preserve their land for agricultural purposes long into the future, which will help Rhode Island farmers, support a sustainable, local food economy, and create opportunities for the next generation of Rhode Island farmers.”
“Well done to DEM for winning this competitive funding for the new Farmland Legacy Partnership Project, which will give Rhode Island farmers a boost and preserve more green space across the state,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.
“Rhode Island farmers work hard every day to keep our state fed, and investing in their growth and conservation is good for all Rhode Islanders,” said Representative Seth Magaziner. “I am proud to join my colleagues to celebrate this $6.3 million of federal funding that will help local farmers maintain the land their livelihoods depend on and bring the next generation of Rhode Island farmers more success.”
“Rhode Island’s farms are essential to our local food supply, economy, and environment,” said Congressman Gabe Amo. “This $6.3 million federal investment will help farmers conserve natural resources, keep land in production, and preserve open space. By protecting farmland, we can strengthen our local food economy and create more opportunities for the next generation of Rhode Island farmers.”
“Rhode Island’s selection for this funding marks a transformative milestone for protecting our rich agricultural heritage,” said Governor Dan McKee. “This federal funding support provides a path forward for our dedicated farmers to preserve farmland and RI’s natural resources to help ensure that they remain protected, productive, and resilient for generations to come."
“Landing this competitive federal grant is a huge investment for the protection of Rhode Island’s farmland, and we’re grateful to the USDA for selecting RI’s application,” said DEM Director Terry Gray. “Protecting Rhode Island’s working farms makes them much more resistant to development. With more than 1,000 farms throughout the state and the nation’s highest percentage of beginning farmers according to USDA’s latest Census of Agriculture, our farming sector is growing. This makes farmland succession and conservation even more important for RI’s agricultural economy, food system, and environment.”
RI’s Agricultural Land Preservation Commission (ALPC), a quasi-governmental agency that operates in coordination with DEM, maintains a list of farms throughout RI that want to protect their farmland from development but often have no path forward for conservation due to the lack of eligible entities with the funding and capacity to conserve it. The federal funding will support contracts through conservation easements for these agricultural lands along with adjacent forestlands. These conservation easements focused on farmland succession will be held by NRCS with support from DEM, the Northern RI Conservation District, and the RI Center for Mediation and Collaboration. DEM and ALPC will help identify suitable projects.
DEM supports RI’s green economy by helping farmers and fishers grow their businesses, invest in infrastructure, and access incubation space for new farmers at Urban Edge Farm and Snake Den Farm. From 2017 to 2022, both farm numbers and farmland grew, showing strong statewide support for local agriculture, boosting the economy, protecting the environment, and strengthening food security.
Local is closer than you think – follow RI Grown on Facebook, on Instagram, and subscribe to our newsletter to find locally caught, grown, and made foods from RI farmers, fishers, and food producers. For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow DEM on Facebook, Twitter/X (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates. Sign up here to receive the latest press releases, news, and events from DEM's Public Affairs Office to your inbox.