USDA Announces Sign-up and Availability of Funds for Grassland Reserve Program in Maryland

Columbia, MD, August 9, 2005—Landowners have less than a month to submit applications for the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP), administered jointly by the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). August 26, 2005 is the deadline to submit GRP offers and have them considered for funding in September. This year, Maryland has $133,200 available for qualifying applicants.

“The voluntary Grassland Reserve Program provides an excellent opportunity for landowners to preserve and conserve our nation’s grasslands,” said Elizabeth Anderson, State Executive Director for the Maryland Farm Service Agency. “GRP provides annual rental payments, typically in the range of $9 to $14 per acre, for a period of 10, 15, 20 or 30 years.”

Offers for participation in GRP must include 40 or more acres of eligible land.  Enrolled land must be maintained in at least the same level of grassland quality as now exists, and cannot be used for production of annually planted crops.

Grasslands eligible for enrollment in this program include pasture and permanent hayland. Other acreage which may qualify for enrollment includes incidental areas such as land containing shrubs, or land located in an area historically dominated by grassland.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will evaluate each offer and rate the eligibility of the land according to specific criteria, including current vegetative cover, susceptibility to urban sprawl, and the potential for conversion to cropland. Landowners whose applications are selected for enrollment in GRP will receive technical assistance to support grazing operations and to increase and maintain plant diversity.

“Grasslands provide critical ecological benefits and play a key role in environmental and water quality protection, as well as contributing to the economies of many rural areas,” said Virginia (Ginger) L. Murphy, State Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. “When properly managed, grasslands can result in cleaner water supplies, healthier riparian areas and reduced sediment loadings in streams and other water bodies. These lands are vital for the production of forage for domestic livestock and can also provide habitat for wildlife,” said Murphy.

Landowners interested in filing an application for GRP funding should immediately contact their local FSA or NRCS Field Service Center.  For additional information, visit the Maryland NRCS website at http://www.md.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/grp/grp.html.