Arkansas 2005 GRP Sign-Up and Application Information
Sign-up period ends April 15
General Description
The Grassland Reserve Program is a voluntary program offering
landowners the opportunity to protect, restore and enhance grasslands on
their property. Section 2401 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment
Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171) amended the Food Security Act of 1985 to
authorize this program. 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.
Sign-up Period
Sign ups for the 2005 Grassland Reserve Program continue through April 15
at local USDA service centers. The program’s objective is to conserve
vulnerable grasslands from conversion to cropland or other uses and to aid
in maintaining viable farming and ranching operations.
"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 Kalven L. Trice, 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.
“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,” Trice said.
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.
Restoration agreements are available as needed to applicants selected for
an easement or rental agreement. Under these 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, except native prairie must be at least 20 contiguous
acres. Applicants selected will also be required to use rotational grazing.
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/.
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