Grassland Reserve Needs Changes

NCBA is corresponding with Congress and USDA to create a workable Grasslands Reserve Program.  As part of the 2002 Farm Bill, the new GRP has $250 million in mandatory spending to enroll up to two million acres of grazing land.  NCBA intended for this new program to be more beneficial for ranchers than existing conservation programs, such as the Wetlands Reserve Program and the Farmland Protection Program.  NCBA is disappointed the Bush Administration is choosing to craft the Grasslands Reserve Program similar to these programs.  NCBA is pursuing — among other strategies — a legislative remedy to address areas of the program which cause producers the most concern, such as easements and producers’ control over property.