Grassland Reserve Program

To assist landowners and operators in restoring and protecting eligible grazing lands, including rangeland, pastureland and certain other lands through rental contracts and easements.

Only landowners may submit applications for easements; landowners and others who have general control of the acreage may submit applications for rental contracts. Easements may also be acquired by eligible entities based on a 50 percent cost-share with the Federal government. Eligible entities are defined as units of State, local or Tribal government or nongovernmental organizations that have a charter describing a commitment to conserving ranchland, agricultural land, or grassland for grazing and conservation purposes. All participants are subject to the Adjusted Gross Income Provision set forth in 7 CFR Part 1400.

Eligible entities must demonstrate relevant experience and resources to administer a GRP easement. Its charter or mission describes its long term commitment to conserving ranchland, agricultural land, or grassland for grazing and conservation purposes. NRCS evaluates an entities' capacity to acquire, manage and enforce easements; its staffing and the ability of an entity to provide matching funds before entering into a cooperative agreement.

GRP easements and rental contracts emphasize support for working grazing lands. Easements and rental contracts (1) permit grazing on the land in a manner that is consistent with maintaining the viability of the native and natural grass, shrub, forest, and wildlife species adapted to the locality; (2) permit haying, mowing, or harvesting for seed production, except during the nesting and brood-rearing seasons for birds in the area that are in significant decline; (3) allow for fire rehabilitation and construction of firebreaks, fences, watering facilities and practices that protect and restore the grasslands functions and values; and (4) prohibit the production of row crops, fruit trees, vineyards, or any other agricultural commodities. Both easements and rental contracts require that the land is managed to maintain the viability of the plant community as described in the conservation or grazing management plan.

Easement duration is either perpetual, or the maximum duration permitted by State law. Financial assistance for easement acquisition is provided at closing. For rental contracts, payments are made annually on the agreement anniversary date of USDA approval. For both easements and rental contracts, if restoration activities are required, financial assistance for such activities is provided when required practices are established.

USDA established criteria to evaluate and rank applications for easement and rental contract enrollment. Ranking criteria emphasized support for high quality grasslands and shrublands; grazing operations; plant and animal biodiversity; and grasslands under threat of conversion to cropping or development. Individual project selection was made by State level USDA officials.

Not Applicable. This program was repealed by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill), effective February 7, 2014. Therefore, no new enrollments are authorized for this program after that date.