Funding Offered to Texas Grassland Owners, Priority for Drought Areas

Grassland owners in south Texas, the area hardest hit by the state’s
drought, will be given priority consideration to participate in USDA’s
Grassland Reserve Program (GRP), a $4.2 million conservation program in
Texas. Extreme or exceptional drought has been designated in 78 counties in
south Texas by the U.S. Drought Monitor. Landowners in these counties can
sign-up for GRP to be compensated to defer cattle grazing until grassland
conditions improve. GRP is a continuous sign-up program, but landowners are
encouraged to apply as soon as possible to be eligible for the 2009 funding
cycle, which ends in September. There are two enrollment options for GRP.
The first is rental agreements of 10, 15, or 20-year duration, where USDA
pays 75 percent of the grazing value in annual payments for the length of
the agreement. The second is permanent easements, where USDA makes payment
based on the fair market value of the property less the grazing value. For
more information, visit the nearest USDA Service Center or visit the NRCS
Texas Web site at http://www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/GRP/index.html
http://www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/GRP/index.html. Media contact: Lori
Valadez, (254) 742-9811, href=”mailto:lori.valadez@tx.usda.gov”>lori.valadez@tx.usda.gov