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Grassland Reserve Program

The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance grasslands on their property. Section 2401 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171) amended the Food Security Act of 1985 to authorize this program. The Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency and Forest Service are coordinating implementation of GRP, which helps landowners restore and protect grassland, rangeland, pastureland, shrubland and certain other lands and provides assistance for rehabilitating grasslands. The program will conserve vulnerable grasslands from conversion to cropland or other uses and conserve valuable grasslands by helping maintain viable ranching operations.

"Grasslands provide critical ecological benefits and play a key role in environmental quality, as well as contributing to the economies of many rural areas," said Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman. "This voluntary program helps protect valuable grasslands from conversion to other land uses, thus helping to ensure this national resource is available to future generations."

Grasslands make up the largest land cover on America's private lands. Privately-owned grasslands and shrublands cover more than 525 million acres in the United States. For the first time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will direct financial resources and technical expertise to help landowners protect and restore these lands.

GRP Interim Final Rule Comments are In!

To view comments at our headquarters office in
Washington DC, please contact us at 202-720-1845.

Click here to view comments online

Responses and comments on the Grassland Reserve Program Interim Final Rule rule have been received.  NRCS is recording, cataloging, and analyzing the comments. All comments will be considered as NRCS develops the final guidelines for implementing the program.

Program Information

These documents require Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat Document7 CFR 1415, May 21, 2004 (110.88 KB), Interim Final Rule with request for comments by July 20, 2004 

Updates coming soon!
Adobe Acrobat DocumentFact Sheet (31.89 KB) New!
Adobe Acrobat DocumentQuestions and Answers (42.30 KB) New!
Adobe Acrobat DocumentKey Points  (37.49 KB) New!

GRP Sign Up Information is Now On-Line!

GRP Sign-up information is now available online. Click on the link below to take you to the application information for that State, the official ranking criteria used to evaluate your application, and a links to other information of interest to a specific region, State, or area.

State GRP Application Information, 2003 Archive Purposes Only
State GRP Application Information, 2004 New

Sign-up Forms Available Online

These documents require Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm AD-1153, Application for Long-Term Contracted Assistance
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm CCC0920, Grassland Reserve Program Contract
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm CCC0920 Appendix, Grassland Reserve Program Contract
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm AD-1155, Conservation Plan and Schedule of Operations
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm AD-1155A, Conservation Plan and Schedule of Operations, Signatures
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm AD-1156, Conservation Plan and Schedule of Operations Modification
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm AD-1161, Application for Payment

USDA Service Center EForms Web Site - for instructions and information

Easement Forms Available Online

These documents require Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm AD-1157, Option Agreement to Purchase
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm AD-1157A, Option Agreement to Purchase, Amendment 1
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm AD-1158, Subordination Agreement and Limited Lien Waiver
Form CCC1255-GRP Warranty Easement Deed for Permanent Easements
Form CCC1255-GRP-30, Warranty Easement Deed for 30-Year Easements
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm NRCS-LTP13, Conservation Program Status Review

GRP Project and Funding Information

NRCS Program Contact

Floyd Wood, 202-720-0242

FSA Program Contact

Jim Williams, 202-720-9562