USDA Announces Sign-up for new Grassland Reserve Program

USDA has released the first sign-up for the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) starting June 30, 2003. The 2002 Farm Bill amended the Food Security Act of 1985 to include authorization for this program.

"Grasslands provide critical ecological benefits and play a key role in environmental quality, as well as contributing to the economies of many rural areas," said Harold L. Klaege, state conservationist. "This voluntary program helps protect valuable grasslands from conversion to other land uses, thus helping to ensure this national resource is available to future generations."

Grasslands make up the largest land cover on America's private lands. Privately-owned grasslands and shrublands cover more than 525 million acres in the United States. For the first time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will direct financial resources and technical expertise to help landowners protect and restore these lands.

In Kansas

"GRP will help landowners restore and protect grassland, rangeland, pastureland, shrubland and certain other lands and provides assistance for rehabilitating grasslands," explained Klaege.

"The program will conserve vulnerable grasslands from conversion to cropland or other uses and conserve valuable grasslands by helping maintain viable ranching operations."

GRP offers producers several enrollment options: permanent easements, 30-year easements, rental agreements (10, 15, 20 or 30-year duration) and restoration agreements. For permanent easements, USDA makes a payment based on the fair market value of the property less the grazing value. For 30-year easements, USDA pays 30 percent of what would be paid for a permanent easement. For rental agreements, USDA pays 75 percent of the grazing value in annual payments for the length of the agreement.

The NRCS, Farm Service Agency, and Forest Service are coordinating the implementation of GRP. Once funding has been exhausted, eligible applicants will remain on file until additional funding becomes available. Approximately $49.9 million in fiscal year 2003 funds are available to implement GRP.

Apply at Local NRCS Office

Agricultural producers interested in participating in GRP can apply at any time at their local NRCS or FSA office. Landowners may apply by filling out an application form and providing an aerial photograph with boundaries delineated for the land offered.

To participate in GRP, offers must be for private land that includes at least 40 contiguous acres. Additional eligibility criteria are described in the "Notice of Availability of Program Funds for the Grassland Reserve Program" that was published in the Federal Register on June 13, 2003, and is available on the NRCS Web site. This notice applies only to fiscal year 2003 funds and will be used for the initial sign-up.

For more information about GRP and other conservation programs, contact your local USDA Service Center, listed in the telephone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture, or online.