Grassland Reserve Program

Introduction

The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a voluntary conservation program that emphasizes support for working grazing operations, enhancement of plant and animal biodiversity, and protection of grassland under threat of conversion to other uses.

Participants voluntarily limit future development and cropping uses of the land while retaining the right to conduct common grazing practices and operations related to the production of forage and seeding, subject to certain restrictions during nesting seasons of bird species that are in significant decline or are protected under Federal or State law. A grazing management plan is required for participants.

Program Information

These documents require Adobe Acrobat Reader:

GRP Amendment (PDF, 58KB) public comment period is open until September 21, 2009. Comments can be emailed to GRP2008@wdc.usda.gov.

Memorandum of Understanding for GRP between FSA/CCC and NRCS (PDF, 193KB)

2008 Farm Bill Fact Sheet (PDF, 49KB)

2008 Farm Bill At-A-Glance (PDF, 52KB)

2008 Farm Bill Interim Final Rule (PDF, 193KB)

2008 Cost Benefit Analysis (PDF, 218KB)

2008 Key Points (PDF 50KB)

2009 FONSI (PDF, 19KB) updated August 2009

2009 Environmental Assessment (PDF, 1.8MB)   updated August 2009

More GRP information and forms (national NRCS website)

Archived GRP information (2002 Farm Bill)

Massachusetts Program Contacts

Thomas Akin
State Agronomist
413-253-4365
thomas.akin@ma.usda.gov

Barbara Miller
State Resource Conservationist - Massachusetts
413-253-4380
barbara.miller@ma.usda.gov

< Back to Programs

Updated August 26, 2009