Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)

The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) offers landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance grassland including rangeland, pastureland, shrubland and certain other lands on their property.  USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency administer this program.  This voluntary program helps protect valuable grasslands from conversion to cropland or other uses and helps ensure that grasslands are available to future generations.

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. A grazing management plan is required for participants.

USDA offers two enrollment options: Rental Agreements and Easements.

Additional Information

Find additional GRP information on the national NRCS Web site.
 

The following documents require Acrobat Reader

GRP Policy

• GRP Departmental Manual (PDF; 429 KB)
• GRP Final Rule (PDF; 183 KB)

Forms

• CCC-920 Grassland Reserve Program Contract (Rental Agreements only) (PDF; 106 KB)

• CCC-920 Grassland Reserve Program Contract, Appendix (PDF; 145 KB)
• NRCS LTP-50 Agreement (PDF; 29 KB)
• NRCS LTP-60 Deed (PDF; 60 KB)

Contact

For local assistance, please contact the District Conservationist in your area.  For a listing of District Conservationists in Indiana, please click here.

If you have any questions regarding Indiana's Grassland Reserve Program, please contact Brianne Lowe, Indiana's NRCS Easement Program Specialist, at brianne.lowe@in.usda.gov or (317) 295-5834