United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Kentucky Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content





Kentucky's 2005 State Grassland Reserve Program Information

General Description

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 (Public Law 107-171) amended the Food Security Act of 1985 and authorized nationwide two (2) million acres or $254 million dollars through 2007 for 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.

Kentucky’s 2005 GRP Funding

Kentucky will receive $1,142,956.

Kentucky’s 2005 GRP Ranking Criteria

Kentucky’s ranking criteria was developed with input from the Kentucky State Technical Committee whose members represent a variety of interests.

Click here to view Kentucky’s 2005 Ranking Criteria. (DOC; 390 KB)

Minimum Requirements for Acres Enrolled in the Grassland Reserve Program

Landowners who are approved and accept enrollment into the GRP need to seek assistance from the District Conservationist in developing a Conservation Plan on the acres enrolled in the GRP and implement the practices identified in the plan. The landowner is to be aware there are haying and mowing guidelines and grazing heights specified in the conservation plan that must be adhered to for the length of the enrollment option unless mutually agreed in writing.

The following items will be specified and tailored to each conservation plan.

Kentucky’s GRP Mowing and Haying guidelines

Click here to view Kentucky’s Mowing and Haying Guidelines

Kentucky’s GRP Grazing Plan Requirements

Click here to view Kentucky’s Grazing Plan Requirements

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
selected for funding in the previous fiscal year will be deferred and considered for funding during the next ranking period.

Enrollment Options
  • Permanent Easements.
  • Payments are based on the fair market value of the property less the grazing value.
  • 30-year Easements.  The landowner is paid thirty percent of the cost of a permanent easement.
  • Rental Agreements (DOC; 150 KB).  10, 15, 20, or 30 year options are available. (NOTE: As of December 2004, rental rates remain the same as FY2004 posting.) Seventy-five percent of the grazing value will be paid in annual payments for the length of the agreement. Rental rates for your county are available here (DOC; 150 KB).  (The rate shown represents seventy-five percent of the grazing value.)
  • Restoration Agreements. Up to ninety percent of the restoration cost on grassland or shrubland that has never been cultivated and not more than seventy-five percent on restored grassland or shrubland that has been cultivated.
  • Sample Conservation Easement Deed. (PDF; 70 KB) Click here to view a sample deed for GRP conservation easements.

    • The final rule for the Grassland Reserve Program was published in the Federal Register on March 6, 2006. The rule can be viewed at:  http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/grp/

    Or contact NRCS or FSA at your  local KY USDA Service Center. 

    For previous year, click here to view Kentucky’s 2004 GRP site


    State Contact:

    Jacob Kuhn, Assistant State Conservationist
    Phone: 859-224-7350
    e-mail:     jack.kuhn@ky.usda.gov


    < Back to ...