Grassland Reserve Program

Grassland Reserve Program

The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a voluntary program assisting landowners and operators in protecting grazing uses and related conservation values by restoring and conserving grassland resources.

Contact your local District Conservationist for any questions or to submit an application.

GRP in Kentucky emphasizes:

  • Preservation and restoration of native grasslands
  • Supporting grazing operations
  • Protecting grasslands from threats of conversion
  • Maintaining and improving plant and animal biodiversity

Enrollment Types:

Landowners who want to participate in GRP may enroll through a permanent conservation easement or 10, 15, or 20 year rental contract. Rental Contracts pay a flat rate per acre for the grassland value for each year of the agreement. Permanent Conservation Easement value is determined by the lowest of an appraisal, geographic area rate cap, or landowner offer. The GRP program covers the cost of the appraisal, land surveys, and closing and recording fees.

Under all options the landowner agrees to implement a grazing management plan on all enrolled land. The program provides 50% cost-share for any needed grazing improvements such as fencing and grass plantings.

Sign-up Period

Sign-ups for the Grassland Reserve Program are accepted at USDA Service Centers on a continuous basis with one or more ranking and selection periods per fiscal year. Applications that were not elected for funding in the previous fiscal year will be deferred and considered for funding during the next ranking period.

Ranking Process: 

Kentucky emphasizes obtaining easements or rental contracts on eligible land that contain remnant native grass habitat and restoration of the remnant habitat. Additional emphasis on GRP in Kentucky is obtaining easements or rental contracts on grazing operations that are exhibiting excellent management of the grassland resources while minimizing the effects on local water quality. Applications will be evaluated using a two phase ranking criteria where only the highest rated applicants will be evaluated in the second phase of ranking.

 

Grassland Reserve Program Kentucky Phase 1 Ranking Worksheet (PDF: 15KB)   Text Version

The following forms are available at   http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/eForms/welcomeAction.do?Home   (USDA eAuthentication may be required)

  • Grassland Reserve Program Conservation Easement Deed - Form NRCS-LTP-60
  • Subordination Agreement and Limited Lien Waiver - Form AD 1158
  • Agreement for the Purchase of a Conservation Easement - NRCS-LTP-50 

 

 

For More Information

 

Please contact NRCS at your local USDA Service Center. 

 

 

 

State Contacts

 

Jacob Kuhn

Assistant State Conservationist

859-224-7371

 

Jerome Faulkner

Resource Conservationist

Phone: 859-224-7310