# Presentation: 018226

## Grassland Reserve Program
(GRP)

**United States Department of Agriculture**
**Natural Resources Conservation Service**

**Grassland Reserve Program**
**(GRP)**

**FARM BILL 2002**

***Colorado Conservation***

***Helping People******Help the Land***

## Farm Bill 2002

- Most significant commitment of resources toward conservation in our Nation’s history
- Opportunities for farmers and ranchers to reach conservation goals
- Variety of incentives to producers and landowners interested in conservation programs

## The Farm Bill program is one of the most effective tools NRCS
has in place to address Colorado’s top priority natural resource
issues including:

- has in place to address Colorado’s top priority natural resource
- issues including:

**Farm Bill 2002**

**      ****Water Quantity**
**      ****Rangeland Health**
**      ****Water Quality ****        (Animal Nutrients)**
**      ****Soil Health**
**      ****Drought Recovery**

## Watershed Approach

- Ten major watershed basins
- Recognizes resource diversity
- Locally led by conservation districts
- Customized programs
- Ranking based on similar systems

## Colorado Conservation Districts and Watershed Associations

## Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)

**Helps protect, restore, and enhance grasslands**
**Provides biodiversity of plant and animal population**

## Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)

**Easements**
- Permanent
- 30-Year
**Agreements**
- 10, 15, 20, and 30-year rental agreements
- Restoration agreements

_**Enrollment Options**_

## Protection from threat of conversion

Maintaining working agricultural lands

Maintaining biodiversity

- Maintaining working agricultural lands
- Maintaining biodiversity

**Program priorities include:**

**Grassland Reserve Program ****(GRP)**

## Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP)Project Locations Map

**Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP)*****Project Locations Map***

**Indicates county locations with existing GRP projects.**

## Grassland Reserve Program(GRP)

|  GRP Program Activities |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| YEAR | # 
Applications Received | # 
Applications Approved | $ 
Applications Approved | # 
Acres Funded |
| 2003 | 375 | 4 | $1.3 M | 4,200 |
| 2004 | 311 | 7 | $1.8 M | 8,300 |
| 2005 | 206 | 6 | $2.6 M | 13,600 |
| 2006 | NA | 5 | $1.2 M | 11,800 |
| Grand Totals | 892 | 22 | $6.9 M | 37,900 |

## NRCS...Helping People Help the Land

**United States Department of Agriculture**
**Natural Resources Conservation Service**

**The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status (not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).  Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).**
**To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14****th**** and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC  20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD).**
**USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.**