Sign-Up Begins for Reserve Program

Sign-up for the Grassland Reserve Program, a component of the Farm Bill, began June 30. The Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency and Forest Service are coordinating implementation of the $49.9 million (fiscal 2003) program, which helps landowners restore and protect grassland, rangeland, pastures, 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.

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, USDA will direct financial resources and technical expertise to help landowners protect and restore these lands.

To participate in the program, offers must be private land that include at least 40 contiguous acres. Additional eligibility criteria apply.  Contact your local USDA Service Center for information.

The program 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).

“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,” said USDA Secretary Ann Veneman.