GRP Eligibility

Land Eligibility

Privately owned and Tribal lands can be enrolled in the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP). The land must be grassland, including rangeland, pastureland (including improved rangeland and pastureland), shrubland and other lands. Incidental lands may be included in a GRP application to allow for the efficient administration of an agreement or easement.

Land is not eligible for GRP if it is already protected under an existing contract, easement or deed restriction, or if the land is in ownership by any entity whose purpose is to protect and conserve grassland and related conservation values.

There is no maximum or minimum amount of land that may be enrolled by a participant in the program, however the 2008 Farm Bill limits annual payments for both rental and restoration agreements to a maximum of $50,000.

Applicant Eligibility

Landowners who can provide clear title on privately owned lands are eligible to participate for either easement option. Landowners and others who have general control of the acreage may submit an application for a rental agreement.

To be eligible to GRP, applicants must also:

• Be in compliance with highly erodible land and wetland provisions of the Farm Bill; and
  • The applicant is in compliance with Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) requirements. If an applicant has an average adjusted gross nonfarm income greater than $1 million, the person or legal entity is not eligible, unless 66.66 percent or more of the average adjusted gross income is attributable to activities related to farming defined as farm income. Click here to view the AGI fact sheet.
• Be in compliance with highly erodible land and wetland provisions of the Farm Bill.

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