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Mississippi 2004 Grassland Reserve Program
Signup and Application Information

General Program Description  
The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a voluntary program that helps landowners and operators restore and protect grassland, including rangeland and pastureland, and certain other lands, while maintaining the areas as grazing lands. 

The program emphasizes:
   ● support for grazing operations,
   ● plant and animal biodiversity, and
   ●grasslands under the greatest threat of conversion.

GRP is authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill .  The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) administer the program, in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service.  Funding for the GRP comes from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).  Producers can apply at USDA Service Centers in Mississippi.

How Grassland Reserves Program Works in Mississippi  

Applications may be filed for a rental agreement or easement with NRCS or FSA at any time.  April 30, 2004 is the cutoff date for applications to be considered for this year’s allocation of funds.  All applications on file through that date will be evaluated and prioritized for 2004 funding.  Applications received after April 30 will be considered in the next ranking.

Participants voluntarily limit future use of the land while retaining the right to conduct common grazing practices; produce hay, mow, or harvest for seed production (subject to certain restrictions during the nesting season of bird species that are in significant decline or those that are protected under Federal or State law); and conduct fire rehabilitation and construct firebreaks and fences.

The program offers several enrollment options:

Rental Agreement:  Participants have the option of choosing a 10-year, 15-year, 20-year, or 30-year rental agreements. USDA will provide annual payments in an amount that is not more than 75 percent of the grazing value of the land covered by the agreement for the life of the agreement. Payments will be disbursed on the agreement anniversary date each year.

Mississippi Rental Rates
County GRP Rental Rates County GRP Rental Rates County GRP Rental Rates
Adams 12.5 Itawamba 9.5 Pike 7
Alcorn 10 Jackson 7 Pontotoc 9.5
Amite 8.5 Jasper 8 Prentiss 9.5
Attala 9.5 Jefferson 12.5 Quitman 13
Benton 10 Jefferson Davis 7 Rankin 9.5
Bolivar 13 Jones 8 Scott 8.5
Calhoun 9.5 Kemper 8 Sharkey 12.5
Carroll 10 Lafayette 9.5 Simpson 8
Chickasaw 9 Lamar 7 Smith 8
Choctaw 8.5 Lauderdale 8 Stone 7
Claiborne 12.5 Lawrence 7 Sunflower 12.5
Clarke 8 Leake 9.5 Tallahatchie 12.5
Clay 8.5 Lee 9.5 Tate 12
Coahoma 13 Leflore 12 Tippah 10
Copiah 9.5 Lincoln 7 Tishomingo 10
Covington 8 Lowndes 8.5 Tunica 13
De Soto 14 Madison 10.5 Union 9.5
Forrest 7 Marion 7 Walthall 7
Franklin 8.5 Marshall 12 Warren 12.5
George 7 Monroe 9 Washington 12.5
Greene 7.5 Montgomery 10 Wayne 7.5
Grenada 10 Neshoba 8 Webster 9.5
Hancock 7 Newton 8 Wilkinson 12.5
Harrison 7 Noxubee 8.5 Winston 8.5
Hinds 10.5 Oktibbeha 8.5 Yalobusha 9.5
Holmes 10.5 Panola 11 Yazoo 12
Humphreys 12 Pearl River 7
Issaquena 12.5 Perry 7

Permanent Easement: This is a conservation easement in perpetuity. Easement payments for this option equal the fair market value, less the grazing value of the land encumbered by the easement. These values will be determined using an appraisal process.

30-year Easement: USDA will provide an easement payment equal to 30 percent of the fair market value of the land, less the grazing value of the land for the period during which the land is encumbered by the easement.

For both easement options, USDA will provide all administrative costs associated with recording the easement, including appraisal fees, survey costs, title insurance, and recording fees. Easement payments may be provided, at the participant’s request, in lump sum or annual payments (equal or unequal amounts) for up to 10 years.

Restoration agreement:  If restoration is determined necessary by NRCS, a restoration agreement will be incorporated within the rental agreement or easement. CCC will provide up to 90 percent of the restoration costs on lands that have never been cultivated, and up to 75 percent of the cost on restored grasslands. Participants will be paid upon certification of the completion of the approved practice(s) by NRCS or an approved third party. Participants may contribute to the application of a cost-share practice through in-kind contributions.

Ranking Criteria

Applications will be evaluated and selected based on state ranking criteria.  For 2003 priority will be given to applications for existing grassland under the greatest threat of conversion.

These documents require Adobe Acrobat Adobe Acrobat to view the material.

 Adobe Acrobat 2004 Mississippi GRP  Easement Ranking Worksheet

 Adobe Acrobat 2004 Mississippi GRP Rental Agreement Ranking Worksheet

Eligibility

Landowners who can provide clear title are eligible to submit an application for either easement option. Landowners and others who have general control of the acreage may submit an application for a rental agreement.

The Adjusted Gross Income provision of the 2002 Farm Bill  impacts eligibility for GRP and several other 2002 Farm Bill programs. Individuals or entities that have an average adjusted gross income exceeding $2.5 million for the three tax years immediately preceding the year the contract is approved are not eligible to receive program benefits or payments. However, an exemption is provided in cases where 75 percent of the adjusted gross income is derived from farming, ranching, or forestry operations.

Eligible land includes grassland or land that contains forbs or shrubs (including improved rangeland and pastureland); and grassland or land that is located in an area that historically has been dominated by grassland, forbs, and shrubs and has potential to provide habitat for animal or plant populations of significant ecological value if the land is retained in its current use or restored to a natural condition. Incidental lands may be included to allow for the efficient administration of an agreement or easement.

To Apply:

Application signup is an ongoing process and can be done online or completed at your local USDA Service Center with NRCS or FSA.

For More Information:

Please contact your Local USDA Service Center office.

State Contact:
Al Garner, Assistant State Conservationist for Operations, 601-965-5196.

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