USDA Agencies Seeking Applications for Grassland Reserve Program

HARRISBURG, PA, Apr 20 (MARKET WIRE) --
Representatives from Pennsylvania's USDA Natural Resources Conservation
Service and Farm Service Agency today announced May 29 as the application
deadline for the first ranking of the Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP).
Applying for GRP is continuous; however, ranking dates are established to
evaluate and select applications for funding.

"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 Bill Foose, FSA Program Chief. Craig Derickson, NRCS
State Conservationist, added, "The voluntary GRP helps protect valuable
grasslands from conversion to other land uses, thus helping to ensure this
national resource is available to future generations." The U.S. Department
of Agriculture is directing financial resources and technical expertise to
help landowners protect and restore these lands.

GRP, jointly administered by NRCS and FSA, offers producers several
enrollment options: (1) rental contracts with durations of 10, 15, or 20
years that pay an annual per-acre payment to the landowner, and (2)
permanent easements that provide a one-time, lump-sum payment to the
landowner.

Participants will be required to implement a grazing management plan
approved by NRCS.

Interested landowners can contact their local NRCS or FSA office listed in
the telephone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture, or online at
http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app. General program information
is available at http://www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/grp/index.html.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Contact:
Molly McDonough
(717) 237-2208

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