Congress enacted the Farmland Protection Policy Act (FPPA) as a subtitle of the 1981 Farm Bill. The purpose of the law is to “…minimize the extent to which Federal programs contribute to the unnecessary conversion of farmland to nonagricultural uses…” (P.L. 97-98, Sec. 1539-1549; 7 U.S.C. 4201, et seq.). The FPPA also stipulates that federal programs be compatible with state, local and private efforts to protect farmland. For the purposes of the law, federal programs include construction projects—such as highways, airports, dams and federal buildings—sponsored or financed in whole or part by the federal government, and the management of federal lands. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is charged with oversight of the FPPA. This fact sheet provides basic information about the Farmland Protection Policy Act.