What a conservation Easement is:

A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a government agency or private land trust that permanently restricts the use of the land for conservation purposes.  For agricultural conservation easements, that purpose is continued agricultural use.  

What a conservation easement does:

• Protects the land in perpetuity and contributes to a lasting legacy
• Provides a means of estate planning or passing the land on to the next generation
• May provide tax benefits to the landowner
• Provides revenue to pay down debt, buy equipment, purchase additional land or reinvest in the farm

What a conservation easement does not do:

•  Limit the ability of the landowner to transfer, sell, lease, or rent the property
•  Require the property to be open to the public