Grassland Reserve Program

The purpose of the Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP) is to provide assistance to landowners and operators to protect grazing uses and related conservation values on eligible private range and pasture lands. The program emphasizes support of grazing operations, maintaining and improving plant and animal biodiversity, and protecting grasslands and shrublands under threat of conversion to cropping, urban development, and other non-grazing uses. Participants voluntarily limit future development and cropping uses of the land while retaining the right to conduct common grazing practices and operations related to the production of forage and seeding, subject to certain restrictions during nesting seasons of bird species that are in significant decline or are protected under Federal or State law. This program was repealed by the 2014 Farm Bill, easements and 30-year contracts previously enrolled under WRP are considered enrolled in the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.