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WASHINGTON, May 11, 2004 -- Agriculture
Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced the release of an interim final
rule to implement the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP), authorized in the
2002 Farm Bill. The GRP helps landowners restore and protect grassland,
rangeland, pastureland, shrubland and certain other lands and provides assistance
for rehabilitating grasslands.
“This Administration is committed to providing
voluntary conservation programs that promote a healthy environment. Our
nation’s grasslands provide significant ecological benefits and
play a key role in environmental quality,” said Veneman. “This
program conserves grasslands and helps maintain viable ranching and farming
operations.”
By issuing an interim final rule with request for
public comments, USDA can conduct a program sign-up and implementation
this fiscal year, according to the rule. USDA will consider all comments
received during a 60-day public comment period in developing a final GRP
rule.
USDA announced earlier this year that nearly $70 million
in fiscal year 2004 funding is available for the program ($54.2 million
financial assistance and $15.3 million technical assistance).
The interim final rule will be published in the Federal
Register soon, and the public will have 60 days to comment on the rule.
It states that GRP rental agreements and easements are designed for working
agricultural lands and describes multiple enrollment duration options.
Applications for GRP enrollment can be filed at any time throughout the
year.
Applications will be rated based on ranking and selection
criteria developed in the states following broad national guidelines.
USDA proposes that land eligibility criteria should focus on preserving
the nation’s most critical grassland resources, the native and natural
grasslands and shrublands.
Last year, USDA conducted the first nationwide sign-up
for GRP based on the “Notice of Availability of Program Funds for
the Grassland Reserve Program,” published in the Federal Register
on June 13, 2003. The notice applied only to fiscal year 2003 funds and
the initial sign-up.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS), Farm Service Agency and Forest Service are coordinating implementation
of GRP.
For more information on GRP and other conservation
programs, contact your local USDA Service Center, listed in the telephone
book under U.S. Department of Agriculture, or online at http://offices.usda.gov.
Additional GRP information is available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/grp.
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