Small Town News

Sign-up to protect wetlands and grassland by Oct. 29

---

West Virginia landowners interested in restoring, enhancing or protecting wetlands and grasslands may receive funding through the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) and Grassland Reserve Program (GRP).

Landowners must have their applications submitted to their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Service Center by close of business on Oct. 29 to be considered for funding this coming year. NRCS will accept applications after Oct. 29, but

they will not be ranked until the next ranking period is announced. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will assist with applications for GRP. NRCS and FSA have Service Centers throughout the state to help landowners with the application for these programs.

Through WRP, NRCS assists eligible applicants in the restoration, creation, protection, and enhancement of wetlands on their property through a voluntary, environmentally safe and cost-effective manner. Landowners can

receive assistance through three WRP program participation options: restoration cost-share agreements, 30-year easements, or permanent easements.

GRP is another easement program that provides funding to purchase conservation easements, offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance grasslands on their property. The program emphasizes support for working grazing operations, enhancement of plant and animal biodiversity, and

protection of grassland and land containing shrubs and forbs under threat of conversion.

The 2008 Farm Bill provides priority for enrollment of expiring acreage from the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) - limited to 10 percent of the total acres enrolled in any year in GRP. Eligible-lands can be enrolled into a permanent easement or a rental contract of 10, 15 or 20 years. Restoration agreements based on a 50 percent cost-share may be placed on

land enrolled under a rental contract or easement.

Easements for both programs will be based on a Geographic Area Rate Cap or on an offer made by the landowner.

NRCS encourages landowners who are interested in these voluntary programs to contact their local USDA Service Center/NRCS Field Office today to be eligible for the initial funding. Additional information on WRP, GRP and other conservation programs is available on the Web at www.

wv.nrcs.usda.gov. You may also contact Pam Yost, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, at 304-284-7543 or pamela.vost@wv.usda.gov.



Copyright 2010 Mountain Messenger, Lewisburg, West Virginia. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2011 Mountain Messenger Lewisburg, West Virginia. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

More from Mountain Messenger