Fact Sheet Grassland Reserve September 2004 Program Overview those that are protected under Federal or State The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a law); conduct fire rehabilitation; and construct voluntary program that helps landowners and firebreaks and fences. operators restore and protect grassland, including rangeland, pastureland, shrubland, GRP contracts and easements prohibit the and certain other lands, while maintaining the production of crops (other than hay), fruit areas as grazing lands. The program trees, and vineyards that require breaking the emphasizes support for working grazing soil surface and any other activity that would operations; enhancement of plant and animal disturb the surface of the land, except for biodiversity; and protection of grassland and appropriate land management activities land containing shrubs and forbs under threat included in a conservation plan. of conversion to cropping, urban development, and other activities that threaten grassland Each state will establish ranking criteria that resources. will prioritize enrollment of working grasslands. The ranking criteria will consider GRP is authorized by the Food Security Act of threats of conversion, including cropping, 1985, as amended by the Farm Security and invasive species, urban development, and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm other activities that threaten plant and animal Bill). The USDA Natural Resources diversity on grazing lands. Conservation Service (NRCS) and USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) administer the The program offers several enrollment program, in cooperation with the USDA Forest options: Service. Funding for the GRP comes from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). Permanent Easement. This is a conservation easement in perpetuity. Easement payments Benefits for this option equal the fair market value, less Restoring and protecting grasslands the grassland value of the land encumbered by contributes positively to the economy of many the easement. These values will be determined regions, provides biodiversity of plant and using an appraisal. animal populations, and improves environmental quality. Thirty-year Easement. USDA will provide an easement payment equal to 30 percent of the How GRP Works fair market value of the land, less the grassland Applications may be filed for an easement or value of the land of the land encumbered by rental agreement with NRCS or FSA at any the easement. time. Participants voluntarily limit future use of the land while retaining the right to conduct For both easement options, USDA will common grazing practices; produce hay, mow, provide all administrative costs associated or harvest for seed production (subject to with recording the easement, including certain restrictions during the nesting season of appraisal fees, survey costs, title insurance, bird species that are in significant decline or and recording fees. Easement payments may An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer be provided, at the participant's request, in The Adjusted Gross Income provision of the lump sum or annual payments (equal or 2002 Farm Bill impacts eligibility for GRP unequal amounts) for up to 10 years. and several other 2002 Farm Bill programs. Individuals or entities that have an average Rental Agreement. Participants may choose a adjusted gross income exceeding $2.5 million 10-year, 15-year, 20-year, or 30-year contract. for the three tax years immediately preceding USDA will provide annual payments in an the year the contract is approved are not amount that is not more than 75 percent of the eligible to receive program benefits or grazing value of the land covered by the payments. However, an exemption is provided agreement for the life of the agreement. in cases where 75 percent of the adjusted gross Payments will be disbursed on the agreement income is derived from farming, ranching, or anniversary date each year. forestry operations. Restoration agreement. An approved grassland Eligible land includes privately owned and resource management plan identifying Tribal lands, such as grasslands; land that required restoration activities will be contains forbs (including improved rangeland incorporated within the rental agreement or and pastureland or shrubland); or land that is easement. CCC may provide up to 90 percent located in an area that historically has been of the restoration costs on lands that have dominated by grassland, forbs, or shrubland never been cultivated, and up to 75 percent of that has the potential to serve as wildlife the cost on restored grasslands and shrub lands habitat of significant ecological value. that were previously cropped. Participants will Incidental lands may be included to allow for be paid upon certification of the completion of the efficient administration of an agreement or the approved practice(s) by NRCS or an easement. approved third party. Participants may contribute to the application of a cost-share For More Information practice through in-kind contributions. The If you need more information about GRP, combined total cost-share provided by Federal please contact your local USDA Service or State Governments may not exceed 100 Center, listed in the telephone book under U.S. percent of the total actual cost of restoration. Department of Agriculture, or your local conservation district. Information also is Eligibility available on the World Wide Web at: Landowners who can provide clear title on http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/ privately owned lands are eligible to 2002/ and http://www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/GRP/ participate for either easement option. default1.htm Landowners and others who have general control of the acreage may submit an application for a rental agreement. Visit USDA on the Web at: There is no national maximum limitation on http://www.usda.gov/farmbill the amount of land that may be offered for the program. However, there is a minimum requirement established in law. Offers for Note: This is not intended to be a definitive interpretation enrollment must contain at least 40 contiguous of farm legislation. Rather, it is preliminary and may acres, unless special circumstances exist to change as USDA develops implementing policies and procedures. Please check back for updates. accept a lesser amount. These special circumstances are determined by the NRCS State Conservationist. GRP Fact Sheet page 2 September 2004