NRCS Adds Funding to Conservation Programs

Added Funds to Help Colorado Farmers, Ranchers, and Landowners Protect Agricultural Land

Lakewood, CO—The Natural Resources Conservation Service announced additional conservation assistance for working lands through the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) and the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP). Colorado will receive more than $7.5 million in additional Fiscal Year 2010 funding: FRPP - $1,833,419 and GRP - $6,012,764.

These voluntary programs offer private landowners the opportunity to keep productive farm and ranchland in agricultural uses and protect, restore and enhance grassland, rangeland, pastureland, shrubland and forestland.

“This additional funding will enable even more farmers, ranchers and landowners to protect environmentally and economically important agricultural land and preserve the resources that are so critical to the health and prosperity of our rural communities,” said Tim Carney, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, NRCS, Lakewood, CO.

This funding is made available through the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill) final program apportionment for Fiscal Year 2010. Funds for the two programs are being allocated based on requests for program funding from Colorado. These requests take into account the number of applicable acres for each program and the interest the states’ landowners have in program participation.

Administered by the NRCS, the FRPP provides matching funds to eligible entities (e.g. land trusts) to help them purchase conservation easements to keep productive farm and ranchland in agricultural uses. Landowners interested in the FRPP should contact a land trust for information about conservation easements. The Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts website lists member organizations: www.cclt.org. The GRP helps landowners and operators protect working grasslands, including hayland, pastureland, native grasslands and certain other lands through rental contracts or conservation easements. NRCS and USDA’s Farm Service Agency jointly administer the GRP.

For information on eligibility, contact your local USDA Service Center or visit NRCS online at www.co.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/.