[BCNnet] Grassland Reserve Program

[Judy Pollock]

Are there privately owned grasslands or shrublands in some of our more rural
counties in the CW area that someone might want to encourage to take advantage
of this program?

USDA ANNOUNCES SIGN-UP FOR NEW GRASSLAND RESERVE PROGAM
WASHINGTON, June 17, 2003--Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today
announced
that the first sign-up for the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) will begin
nationwide on 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 Veneman. "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. 
Applications for participation will be accepted on a continuous basis at local
USDA service centers. Once funding has been exhausted, eligible applicants
will
remain on file until additional funding becomes available. Veneman previously
announced that $49.9 million in fiscal year 2003 funds are available to
implement GRP. 
The Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency and Forest
Service are coordinating implementation of GRP, which helps landowners restore
and protect grassland, rangeland, pastureland, shrubland and certain other
lands and provides assistance for rehabilitating grasslands. The program will
conserve vulnerable grasslands from conversion to cropland or other uses and
conserve valuable grasslands by helping maintain viable ranching operations. 
When properly managed, grasslands and shrublands can result in cleaner water
supplies, healthier riparian areas and reduced sediment loadings in streams
and
other water bodies. These lands are vital for the production of forage for
domestic livestock and provide forage and habitat for maintaining healthy
wildlife populations. These lands also improve the aesthetic character of the
landscape, provide scenic vistas and open space, provide for recreational
activities and protect the soil from water and wind erosion. 
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. 
For restoration agreements, USDA pays up to 90 percent of the restoration
costs
on grassland and shrubland that has never been cultivated and not more than 75
percent on restored grassland and shrubland (land that once was cultivated). 
To participate in GRP, offers must be 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 listed below. 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 at http://offices.usda.gov/. Information, including
Federal Register notices and rules, also is available at
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/2002.