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Grassland Reserve Program - FY 2013
Application cutoff date is April 19, 2013.
Applications must be received at the local NRCS office by April 19th to be
considered for ranking.
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 fiscal year 2013, 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.
Enrollment Options
GRP targets vulnerable grasslands that are subject to conversion to urban
uses, cropland, or other non-grazing uses through the use of perpetual
easements, or through 10, 15, or 20-year rental agreements.
GRP is administered through the coordinated efforts of the Farm Service
Agency (FSA) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
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.
Specific records include, but are not limited to:
The following documents require
Adobe Acrobat
- Proof of Identity: Authorized persons may be required to show a
valid state driver’s license, passport or other personal identification as
well as Social Security or EIN numbers, address and other information.
- Form CCC-933 (PDF, 161 KB):
Payment Eligibility Average Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Certification and
Consent to Disclosure of Tax Information
- Form AD-1026 (PDF, 159 KB):
Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification.
- Form CCC-901 (PDF, 52 KB): Entity
Member Information, if applicable.
- Form SF-1199A (PDF, 92.1 KB):
Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form.
- Signature Authority: Self-certification of signature authority as
indicated on Form CCC-901 or documents such as articles of incorporation,
charter, bylaws, partnership agreements, trust agreements, wills and similar
legal evidence.
- Land Ownership or control: The applicant may be required to
provide evidence of control of land through ownership documents (deeds,
etc.) or lease information (rental agreements, permits, lease, etc) for the
length of the contract.
- Map depicting ownership boundaries for all land the applicant owns
and operates.
- Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
Number: All entities/organizations using an Employer Identification
Number (EIN) are required to obtain a DUNS number and be registered on the
System for Award Management (SAM) website when submitting a conservation
program application.
- Form FSA-211 (PDF, 73 KB): Power
of Attorney, if applicable
Application and Ranking Material
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.
Oregon GRP screening and ranking information:
The following documents require
Microsoft
Excel
Oregon Screening Criteria
(XLS, 1.62 MB) -- Screening is required prior to ranking.
Oregon Ranking Form (XLS,
4.70 MB) -- For Fiscal Year 2013 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.
Application materials can be obtained at their local
USDA Service Center. Application
materials can also be found below.
The following documents require
Adobe Acrobat
GRP Process Flow Chart (PDF, 88 KB)
Form NRCS-CPA-1200, Conservation
Program Application (PDF, 96 KB) – Signed and dated by all program
participants or authorized persons
Easement Option:
NRCS-LTP-60, (PDF, 60 KB) - Grassland
Reserve Program Conservation Easement (Deed Form)
NRCS-LTP-50, (PDF, 29 KB) -Agreement for
the Purchase of a Conservation Easement
AD-1158, (PDF, 98 KB) - Subordination Agreement
and Limited Lien Waiver
Rental Agreement Option:
AD-1153 (PDF, 108 KB)
CC-920 (PDF, 107 KB)
CC-920 Appendix (PDF, 146 KB)
Information for Cooperating Entities Applying for GRP Funds
The 2008 Farm Bill authorized USDA to enter into cooperative agreements with
entities (State, Tribal, or local government or qualified non-governmental
organizations) to enable them to acquire easements. NRCS will pay up to 50
percent of the purchase price of a GRP conservation easement as determined by a
Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisals Practices (USPAP) appraisal. GRP
funds may not be used for easement transaction costs, such as surveys,
appraisal, title insurance, legal fees, costs of conservation easement
monitoring, and other related transaction costs. Entities may apply at the
Oregon NRCS State Office for parcels with pending offers that meet GRP
eligibility requirements.
To ensure your application is competitive for GRP funding, please be as
thorough as possible in providing the requested information on the Entity
Worksheet and Landowner Interview Worksheet. Provide supplemental information if
you feel this will help provide a more accurate or complete picture of the
easement offering.
For questions or to submit applications, contact:
Bari Williams, Oregon Easement Specialist
Natural Resources Conservation Service
1201 NE Lloyd Blvd
Suite 900
Portland, Oregon 97232
Program Information
The materials
below provide further information about the program.
GRP Interim Final Rule, January 21, 2009
(102.18 KB)
Fact Sheet (PDF, 107 KB)
GRP Project and Funding Information
For Fiscal Year 2013, 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
Contacts
For more information on GRP, contact the local FSA or NRCS office.
Click here
to find contact information.
Oregon NRCS GRP Rental Agreement contact:
Todd Peplin, Todd.Peplin@or.usda.gov (541) 923-4358
Oregon NRCS Easement option contact:
Bari Williams, Bari.Williams@or.usda.gov (541) 414-3226
National GRP Information
National GRP Web site
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