Library
Resource Library
This is where Landowner, Steward, and Partner resources live side by side — tools, references, and supporting materials drawn from across the ecosystem.
What this section is for
The Reading Room teaches what to understand and what to ask. These resources connect you to the agencies, tools, programs, and professionals who can help you carry it out.
Parcel information, maps, soils, boundaries, land-use history, and preliminary research.
Heirs' property, title issues, ownership research, probate and estate assistance, family documentation.
Forestry, conservation, soil and water, management planning, and technical assistance.
Grants, farm loans, conservation funding, USDA programs, rural development, and financing tools.
Comparable sales, preliminary valuation, market information, land-use and income possibilities.
Attorneys, appraisers, surveyors, foresters, CPAs, mediators, and other vetted assistance.
The ACRES KEPT Resource Library helps families and Stewards identify trusted outside tools, agencies, organizations and professional resources when they are ready to act.
Inclusion in the Resource Library does not by itself indicate that an organization is an ACRES KEPT Network Partner.
Start Here
Locate the USDA Service Center serving your county, including NRCS and Farm Service Agency staff.
Best for
When you are ready to speak with the federal office that handles programs in your county.
Bring your ownership documents to the first appointment. Many program conversations stall on records rather than eligibility.
Last reviewed September 2026
Official soil maps and soil property reports for any parcel in the United States.
Best for
When you want to know what your soils can realistically support before making plans.
Free, official, and specific to your acreage. Save the report — it is useful in nearly every later conversation.
Last reviewed September 2026
Parcel boundaries, ownership information, soil productivity, and estimated land values across much of the country.
Best for
Early orientation on parcel lines and general value context before any formal valuation.
Estimates are automated and are not an appraisal. Treat the figures as a starting point for questions, not an answer.
Last reviewed September 2026
Find what you need
12 resources
Locate the USDA Service Center serving your county, including NRCS and Farm Service Agency staff.
Best for
When you are ready to speak with the federal office that handles programs in your county.
Bring your ownership documents to the first appointment. Many program conversations stall on records rather than eligibility.
Last reviewed September 2026
Official soil maps and soil property reports for any parcel in the United States.
Best for
When you want to know what your soils can realistically support before making plans.
Free, official, and specific to your acreage. Save the report — it is useful in nearly every later conversation.
Last reviewed September 2026
Parcel boundaries, ownership information, soil productivity, and estimated land values across much of the country.
Best for
Early orientation on parcel lines and general value context before any formal valuation.
Estimates are automated and are not an appraisal. Treat the figures as a starting point for questions, not an answer.
Last reviewed September 2026
Direct and guaranteed loans that may help eligible producers purchase farmland, build, or make farm improvements.
Best for
When financing is the obstacle to buying, keeping, or improving farmland.
Eligibility, funding, and terms change by year and county. Confirm current details with your local office.
Last reviewed September 2026
Technical and financial assistance programs including EQIP, CSP, and ACEP for working and forested land.
Best for
When the land needs work — erosion, water, fencing, forestry, habitat — and cost is the barrier.
Application windows and ranking dates vary by state and year. Begin with a conservation planner, not an application.
Last reviewed September 2026
Regional organization providing land retention assistance, cooperative development, and technical support to Black and limited-resource landowners.
Best for
Families seeking land-retention help and community-rooted technical assistance across the Southeast.
Services and capacity vary by state office. Contact the office serving your state to confirm what is available.
Current access
Eligibility and current service availability vary. Confirm directly with the organization.
Last reviewed September 2026
Nonprofit law center helping Georgia families clear title, resolve heirs' property, and plan for succession.
Best for
Georgia families whose land is held by multiple heirs or lacks clear title.
Intake, eligibility, and fees are determined by the Center. ACRES KEPT does not direct or participate in their representation.
Current access
Eligibility and current service availability vary. Confirm directly with the organization.
Last reviewed September 2026
Legal advocacy organization addressing heirs' property, title clearing, and land loss prevention in Mississippi.
Best for
Mississippi families facing fractionated ownership or the risk of a partition sale.
Eligibility and case acceptance are determined solely by the organization.
Current access
The organization has reported periods of paused new-client intake due to application volume. Check its current application or waitlist status directly. Eligibility and current service availability vary.
Last reviewed September 2026
Civil legal aid for income-eligible Alabama residents, including heirs' property and basic estate planning matters.
Best for
Alabama families who need legal help with ownership records, wills, or heirs' property.
Income eligibility applies and services depend on office capacity.
Current access
Eligibility and current service availability vary. Confirm directly with the organization.
Last reviewed September 2026
State forestry assistance including management plans, reforestation guidance, and stewardship support for private woodland.
Best for
Mississippi landowners deciding how to manage, thin, or replant timbered acreage.
A written management plan is often a prerequisite for conservation and forestry program participation.
Last reviewed September 2026
Online tool that helps producers find farm funding opportunities and organize program paperwork and recordkeeping.
Best for
When you want help identifying and tracking funding options and required documentation.
An independent commercial tool. Program decisions remain with USDA or the funding agency.
Last reviewed September 2026
County and parish assessor, GIS, tax, and recorder offices hold the deeds, plats, parcel numbers, and tax records for your land.
Best for
Finding the official county or parish assessor, GIS, tax, recorder, or property-record system for the location where land is situated.
County records can help identify parcel numbers, assessed ownership, acreage, tax information, and mapped property information. They are not a substitute for a title examination or licensed survey.
Current access
The linked directory is a third-party navigation aid, not a government agency. It points toward official county and parish record systems, which vary in what they publish online.
Last reviewed September 2026
ACRES KEPT curates resources that may help landowners and stewards take practical next steps. Inclusion does not constitute legal, financial, tax, appraisal, or other professional advice, and listing an external organization or tool does not necessarily indicate an ACRES KEPT partnership or endorsement. Users should independently evaluate providers and professional services for their particular circumstances.
In the meantime
The Reading Room holds the current curriculum, agreements, and references for landowner families, stewards, and partners.
Open the Reading Room →