The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP-ALE) is the federal farmland protection program administered by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The most important, lasting element of an ACEP-ALE transaction is the ALE deed, which can include NRCS Minimum Deed Terms (MDTs). Participating land protection entities choose one option for how to integrate the MDTs into the ALE deed. This resource details the three available options and considerations for using each.