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Connecticut LESA Ranking System for FRPP Proposals (2006)

  • Land Evaluation (LE) is 35% of score – factors relating to agricultural productivity.
  • Site Assessment (SA) is 65% of score – factors relating to social and land use issues that effect agricultural viability.
  • LE + SA = Grand Total Score for ranking.
  • Ranking is scaled to a 100 point system.
  • Weights are given to further define importance and to achieve a possible point total of 100.
LE Factors (35% of total score or maximum of 35 points)
  1. Percent of Cropland in Total Parcel Offered. 15 points maximum. Applications that are predominantly cropland will receive a higher score than applications with components of forestland, wetland, and other land types. The sum of the percentages of cropland, hayland, and pastureland in the parcel is the factor scale used for ranking (e.g., if 84% of parcel is devoted to cropland, hayland, and pastureland = factor scale of 84). Parcels containing < 33% cropland, hayland, and pastureland are not a good fit for FRPP funding and will receive a factor scale of 10.

  2A.   Percent of Parcel that Contains Prime and Statewide Important Farmland Soils, OR

  2B.   Does the Parcel Contain a Registered National or State Historic/Cultural Resource? 20 points maximum. Parcel is scored using
          either Part A or Part B – not both. Applications containing predominantly prime and statewide important soils or containing
          registered historic/cultural resources will receive the highest scores. Protection of the best farmland soils and historic/cultural
          resources are major objectives of the program. The percent of prime and statewide important farmland in the parcel is the factor
          score used for ranking. Parcels containing < 50% prime and statewide important farmland receive a factor scale of 25.

SA Factors (65% of total score or maximum of 65 points)
  1. Active Farmland Within a 2 Mile Radius. 10 points maximum. Acreage of active farmland within 2 miles of the parcel boundary. Farmland that is part of an agricultural community is more likely to be actively farmed.
     
  2. Proximity To and Amount of Protected Farmland/Other Land. 10 points maximum. The amount of compatible use, permanently protected land that is adjacent, within 1 mile and within 2 miles of the parcel is scored. The parcel is benefited by other public and/or private efforts aimed at protecting farmland and minimizing the potential for incompatible development in agricultural areas by use of conservation easements or purchases of other “open space” properties. Measured from the proposed parcel boundary, the highest score applicable in any one column is used.
     
  3. Percent Land in Compatible Land Use Adjacent to the Parcel. 10 points maximum. High density residential development is considered an incompatible use. Adjacent uses can directly impact many aspects of the farming operation.
     
  4. Does the Parcel have a Substantial Level of On-Farm Investments (barns, farm stand, irrigation system, conservation practices, stewardship, etc.)? 5 points maximum. High ranking for farms with infrastructure essential to the agriculture operation (i.e., barns, farm stand, manure handling facility) and/or many conservation practices implemented and maintained currently as part of a recognized conservation plan. Average ranking for little infrastructure essential to the agriculture operation and/or has a recognized conservation plan in place though not fully implemented. Low ranking for parcels of support land with no infrastructure used for ag operation and/or not recognized conservation plan or practices.
     
  5. Is the Parcel Part of an Area of Recognized Special Concern or Environmental Value? 15 points maximum. Parcel contains, borders, or directly influences environmentally sensitive areas or has important ecological functions and values. Points are assigned based on use of various resource maps, including active agriculture map, scenic road designation map, public water supply watershed or ground water recharge zone map, threatened and endangered species map, and other commonly recognized greenways and corridors.
     
  6. Is the Parcel Part of a Threatened Agricultural Community? 5 points maximum. The Connecticut River Valley is a Special Focus Area. Parcels located in this area receive maximum score. Those Connecticut communities with greater than 10% growth between 1990 and 2000 as identified by the U.S. Census and within 10 miles of an urban center receive half score.
     
  7. Degree of Leveraging Guaranteed by Entity (entity share including bargain sale). 8 points maximum. Minimum to participate in the Federal Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program is 50%. Leveraging additional entity dollars will result in a greater acreage protected with federal funds. The percent leverage is the factor scale used in ranking. Less than 50% leverage receives a factor scale of zero.
     
  8. Does the Entity have a History of Acquiring, Managing, or Holding Conservation Easements? 2 points maximum. Entities with a history of holding easements are more likely to be able to carry out their responsibilities of the cooperative agreement.

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