NEWS

United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
9173 W. Barnes Dr., Suite C
Boise, Idaho 83709
 
For More Information:

Contact:  Bob Bartholomew, 208.378.5703
Contact:  Jody Fagan, 208.685.6978

MONEY AVAILABLE FOR GRASSLANDS RESERVE PROGRAM

Boise, June 30, 2004— Over $500,000 is now available to Idaho farmers and ranchers interested in signing up for the USDA Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP) before Aug. 1, 2004.

“This is an increase in funding compared to last year,” says Bob Bartholomew, assistant state conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Boise. “There’s a good possibility we’ll receive additional funds on top of that to address declining sage grouse habitat.”

GRP is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to conserve grasslands on their property. The program, created as part of the 2002 Farm Bill, provides producers conservation easements or rental payments, along with cost-share, for protecting and enhancing vulnerable grasslands while maintaining the areas as grazing lands.

“The program emphasizes the protection of grasslands from conversion to other uses, such as cropland,” Bartholomew says. “We’re looking to enroll grasslands with upland wildlife habitat, good ecological condition and an implemented grazing management plan.”

Grasslands include lands that historically supported a mix of grasses, forbs and brush. If the land has been converted from native grasslands, GRP requires the land be restored to as close to original conditions as possible. Lands with more than 25 percent timber do not qualify.

GRP participants voluntarily limit future use of their land while retaining the right to conduct common grazing practices including producing hay, mowing, harvesting for seed production, conducting fire rehabilitation, and constructing firebreaks and fences. GRP offers several enrollment options: permanent and 30-year easements, and 10-year, 15-year, 20-year or 30-year rental agreements.

In Idaho, 40 percent of GRP funds will be targeted toward rental agreements. If an application exceeds available funds, the landowner will have the opportunity to negotiate the application size.

NRCS accepts GRP sign-ups at local USDA Service Centers on a continuous basis with one or more ranking and selection periods each fiscal year. The 2004 fiscal year GRP ranking period in Idaho will begin Aug. 1 and initial selections will be made by Aug. 13. Applications not selected for funding this year will be considered during the next ranking period.

For more information, producers are encouraged to stop by their local USDA Service Center or visit www.id.nrcs.usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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