Jul 27, 2003 2 min read

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) have $660,000 in funding to protect grasslands within Pennsylvania through the new Grassland Reserve Program, legislated at part of the 2003 Farm Bill. Grasslands can be protected through 30-year or permanent easements, which are similar to the Farmland Preservation Program, or through rental agreements that are set up much like the Conservation Reserve Program.

Easements are based on an appraisal, while rental payments vary by county and range from $7 per acre to $16.50 per acre.

Rental contracts can be 10, 15, 20, or 30 years in length. Haying will likely be restricted during nesting periods to protect critical wildlife habitat.

There is a minimum requirement of 40 contiguous acres and applications will be prioritized based on ranking criteria that will be placed on the NRCS Web site at http://www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov. While applications will be accepted at any time, there is an Aug. 1 cut-off for ranking applications for FY03 funding.

This will allow time for contract obligations to be completed prior to the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.

For information on how you can participate in this program, contact the Fayette/Greene Farm Service Agency, 10 Nickman Plaza, Lemont Furnace, PA at 724-437-7971 (Ext. 2) or 724-627-3056 (Ext. 2), the Fayette County Natural Resources Conservation Service, at 724-437-7971 (Ext. 3), Greene County NRCS at 724-627-5821.