Grassland Reserve Program - FY 2012
 

The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance grasslands, including rangeland, pastureland, shrubland, and certain other lands. The purpose of GRP is to help landowners and operators protect grazing uses and related conservation values by conserving and restoring grassland resources on eligible private lands through rental contracts and easements. The program emphasizes support for grazing operations, which maintains or improves plant and animal biodiversity and protects the property from conversion to uses other than grazing.

The benefits of GRP include:  protecting vital grazing lands from conversion, promoting agricultural stability, increasing forage production, maintaining and improving wildlife habitat and biodiversity of plant and wildlife populations, and providing scenic and recreational opportunities.

By participating in GRP, landowners/operators retain ownership of the land and the right to use the land for grazing and other compatible uses.

Administration of GRP is a coordinated effort between the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). FSA is the lead agency responsible for the administration of rental contracts and financial activities of the program, while NRCS has the lead responsibility for technical assistance, regulatory compliance, and easement administration.

How GRP Works in Oregon:

Eligible Landowners or operators who manage their grasslands, have an active grazing operation, and who want to maintain and prevent their land from future conversion from uses other than grazing can apply for GRP at their local USDA Service Center.

For FY 2012 funding, applications must be submitted to their local USDA Service Center by February 24, 2012.

For fiscal year 2012, NRCS Oregon will give high priority to applications, particularly easements, that enroll sagebrush-dominated grazing lands within and adjacent to sage-grouse core area habitats. Applicants enrolled in the program retain the right to conduct common grazing practices while providing high quality habitat for sage-grouse. Core area habitat primarily occurs in Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Harney, Lake and Malheur counties.

Rental Agreements: This is an annual rental payment to the participant for the length of a contract to maintain or restore grassland functions and values. Contract lengths can be 10 years, 15 years, or 20 years. Rental agreements are based on FSA rental payment rates and generally range from $8-12 per acre in sage-grouse country.

Click here for GRP payment information.

Eligibility

To be eligible for GRP the applicant must be a person, legal entity, joint operator, or Indian tribe, who operates or manages livestock on private or tribal grazing lands. The applicant must also meet the Adjusted Gross Income requirement for the program and be in compliance with highly erodible lands and wetland provisions.

The land must be a viable grazing operation for which grazing is the predominant use, must be under the threat of conversion to other uses other than grazing, and must have plant and wildlife biodiversity.

Click here for additional GRP eligibility information.

Applications will be ranked and prioritized for funding based on the length of the proposed agreement, overall conservation benefit, and benefits to plant and wildlife biodiversity, and other factors. Lands enrolled in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts that will expire in the next 12 months will also receive funding priority.

Click here for Oregon GRP ranking information -- Coming Soon.

Application Material

Application materials can be obtained at their local USDA Service Center. Application materials can also be found below. 

The following documents require Adobe Acrobat

AD-1153 (PDF, 108 KB)
CC-920 (PDF, 107 KB)
CC-920 Appendix (PDF, 146 KB)

Program Information

The materials below provide further information about the program.

GRP Interim Final Rule, January 21, 2009 (102.18 KB) 
Cost Benefit Analysis (PDF, x KB) - coming soon
Fact Sheet (PDF, 107 KB)

GRP Project and Funding Information

For Fiscal Year 2012, approximately $320,000 in GRP funding is available in Oregon.  Applications focusing on grazing and wildlife habitat in sagebrush-dominated lands within and adjacent to sage-grouse core area habitats will be a priority for funding.

Archives

• FY2011
• FY2010
• FY 2009

Contacts

For more information on GRP, contact the local FSA or NRCS office. Click here to find contact information.

Oregon NRCS program contact:
Todd Peplin, Todd.Peplin@or.usda.gov (541) 923-4358

National GRP Information

National GRP Web site
 

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