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Grassland Reserve Program

Farm Bill 2002

Grassland Reserve Program

January 2005

Restoring & Protecting Grasslands...contributes positively to the economy of many regions, provides biodiversity of plant and animal populations, and improves environmental quality.

Illinois GRP Priorities

  • Preservation of native & natural grasslands
  • Protection of grasslands from threat of conversion
  • Support of grazing operations
  • Improvement & maintenance of plant & animal diversity

Overview

The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a voluntary program that helps landowners and operators conserve and protect grassland resources, including rangeland, pastureland, shrubland, and certain other lands. The program emphasizes preservation of native and natural grasslands and shrublands; support for grazing operations; enhancement of plant and animal biodiversity; and protection of grassland and land containing shrubs and forbs under threat of conversion to cropping, urban development, and other activities that threaten grassland resources.

GRP is authorized by the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm Bill). The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) administer the program in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service.

How GRP Works

Applications may be fi led for an easement or rental agreement with NRCS or FSA at any time.

Participants voluntarily limit future use of the land while retaining the right to conduct common grazing practices; produce hay, mow, or harvest for seed production (subject to certain restrictions during the nesting season of bird species that are in significant decline or those that are protected under Federal or State law); conduct fi re rehabilitation; and construct firebreaks and fences.

GRP contracts and easements prohibit the production of crops (other than hay), fruit trees, vineyards or any other activity that would disturb the surface of the land, except for appropriate land management activities included in a conservation plan.

In Illinois, ranking criteria have been established to prioritize enrollment of grassland areas. Preference is given to preserving existing prairie or savannah remnants, based on the diversity of existing plant species. Grasslands under development pressure and with prime farmland soils are also emphasized.

Illinois GRP Enrollment Options
Permanent Easement* This is a conservation easement in perpetuity. Easement payments for this option equal the full fair market value, less the grassland value of the land encumbered by the easement. These values will be determined using an appraisal.
Thirty-year Easement* USDA will provide an easement payment equal to 30 percent of the fair market value of the land, less the grassland value of the land encumbered by the easement.
* For both easement options, USDA will provide all administrative costs associated with recording the easement including appraisal fees, survey costs, title insurance, and recording fees. Easement payments may be provided, at the participant’s request, in lump sum or annual payments (equal or unequal amounts) for up to 10 years.
Rental Agreement Participants may choose a 10-year, 15-year, 20-year, or 30-year contract. USDA will provide annual payments in an amount that is not more than 75 percent of the grazing value of the land covered by the agreement for the life of the agreement. Payments will be disbursed on the agreement anniversary date each year.

Eligibility

Landowners who can provide clear title on privately owned lands are eligible to participate for either a permanent or 30-year easement. Landowners and others who have general control of the acreage may submit an application for a rental agreement.

In Illinois, there is no maximum limitation on the amount of land that may be enrolled into the program. However, there is a minimum requirement established by law. Offers for enrollment must contain at least 40 contiguous acres, unless special circumstances exist to accept a lesser amount. These special circumstances must be approved by the NRCS State Conservationist.

The Adjusted Gross Income provision of the 2002 Farm Bill impacts eligibility for GRP and several other 2002 Farm Bill programs. Individuals or entities that have an average adjusted gross income exceeding $2.5 million for the three tax years immediately preceding the year the contract is approved are not eligible to receive program benefits or payments. However, an exemption is provided in cases where 75 percent of the adjusted gross income is derived from farming, ranching, or forestry operations.

Eligibility for GRP is open to privately owned grassland or Tribal land that is devoted to one or more of the following:

  • Rangeland,
  • Improved pastureland,
  • Savannahs and shrublands, or
  • Riparian areas.

In addition, land that is located in an area that historically has been dominated by grassland, forbs, or shrubland and that has the potential to serve as wildlife habitat of significant ecological value is also eligible for GRP. Incidental lands may be included to allow for the efficient administration of an agreement or easement.

Additional Information

If you need more information about GRP, contact the NRCS District Conservationist at your local USDA Service Center (listed in the telephone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture), or contact your local soil and water conservation district. Information also is available on the World Wide Web at: www.il.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/.

Visit USDA on the Web at: http://www.usda.gov/farmbill

January 2005

Illinois

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