South Carolina 2005 State Grassland Reserve Program Information

The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore and enhance grasslands on their property.  Section 2401 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171) amended the Food Security Act of 1985 to authorize this program.  The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the U. S. Forest Service are coordinating implementation of GRP, which helps landowners restore and protect grassland, rangeland, pastureland, shrubland and certain other lands and provides assistance for rehabilitating grasslands.  The program will conserve vulnerable grasslands from conversion to cropland or other uses and conserve valuable grasslands by helping maintain viable grazing operations.

NRCS in South Carolina has $891,929 in available Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds to implement the GRP in fiscal year 2005.

South Carolina’s ranking criteria was developed with input from the South Carolina State Technical Committee whose members represent a variety of interests. Click on the link in the shaded box below to view the Ranking Criteria. 

Applications 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.  Click on the link in the shaded box below to view the program application form.  The GRP ranking period for fiscal year 2005 will run from October 1, 2004 through March 31, 2005. Applications that are not selected for funding in fiscal year 2005 will be deferred and considered for funding during the next ranking period.