Release No. 0253.10

Contact:
Terry Bish
(202) 720-5974

USDA Announces Additional Funding for Three Conservation Programs

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

WASHINGTON, May 11, 2010— Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced additional conservation assistance for working lands through the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP), Grassland Reserve Program (GRP), and Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP). These voluntary programs offer private landowners in 37 states the opportunity to keep productive farm and ranchland in agricultural uses and protect, restore and enhance grassland, rangeland, pastureland, shrubland and forestland.

"When private landowners and producers adopt smart conservation practices, we are able to make great strides to protect our water supply and maintain the high quality soils that capture carbon, reduce the threat of climate change, and improve wildlife habitat," Vilsack said. "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."

The following 37 states will receive a total of over $80 million in additional Fiscal Year 2010 funding:

State		Program Funding		State Total
	FRPP	GRP	HFRP
Alaska		165,061		165,061
Arkansas		800,000		800,000
California	1,833,419		625,000	2,458,419
Colorado	1,868,243	6,012,764		7,881,007
Florida	3,350,469	1,926,184		5,276,653
Connecticut	1,004,608			1,004,608
Idaho	174,613	1,419,010		1,593,623
Indiana		100,000	536,647	636,647
Kansas		3,000,000		3,000,000
Kentucky			85,000	85,000
Louisiana		634,200		634,200
Maine			10,000	10,000
Maryland	948,974			948,974
Massachusetts	2,666,029	22,937		2,688,966
Michigan	3,769,037	26,816	28,648	3,824,501
Minnesota	226,035	345,000		571,035
Missouri		66,000		66,000
Montana	849,354	2,226,947		3,076,301
Nebraska	313,028	744,966		1,057,994
Nevada	584,761			584,761
New Jersey	1,129,419			1,129,419
New Mexico		1,475,000		1,475,000
New York	954,378	600,000		1,554,378
North Dakota		1,036,229		1,036,229
Ohio	537,781		28,648	566,429
Oklahoma		1,371,236	1,000,000	2,371,236
Oregon			1,667,906	1,667,906
Pennsylvania	228,759	826,220	85,000	1,139,979
South Carolina		865,126		865,126
Tennessee		1,500,000		1,500,000
Texas		14,375,819		14,375,819
Utah		1,571,000		1,571,000
Virginia		1,519,686		1,519,686
Washington	4,503,362	228,244		4,731,606
West Virginia	1,406,452	475,000		1,881,452
Wisconsin		460,000		460,000
Wyoming	3,789,526	2,632,600		6,422,126
Total	$30,138,247	$46,426,045	$4,066,849	$80,631,141

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 all three programs are being allocated based on requests for program funding from the states. 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 Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the FRPP provides matching funds to help purchase easements to keep productive farm and ranchland in agricultural uses. The HFRP, also administered by NRCS, encourages landowners to restore, enhance and protect forestland resources on private land through easements and cost share agreements as well as working with landowners to provide valuable habitat for the protection of endangered species. 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.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ .

NRCS is celebrating 75 years helping people help the land. Since its inception in 1935, the NRCS conservation delivery system has advanced a unique partnership with state and local governments and private landowners delivering conservation based on specific, local conservation needs, while accommodating state and national interests.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

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