FARMINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced this week that applications are being accepted for a new program to help landowners conserve grasslands through easements and long-term agreements.

These voluntary contracts are designed to provide farmers the flexibility to graze pastureland, while preserving and protecting the ecological benefits of eligible lands.

The Grassland Reserve Program received $49.9 million this fiscal year to protect 2 million acres of privately owned grassland, rangeland and pastureland throughout the nation.

Applications will be accepted at USDA service centers on a continuing basis and additional funding will be available for the program through the 2007 fiscal year.

Gary J. Raymond, executive director for the Franklin County Farm Service Agency, said the program has several enrollment options: permanent easements, 30-year easements and rental agreements in 10-, 15-, 20- or 25-year durations.

Participants applying for permanent easements would receive a payment based on the fair market value of the property, less the grazing value. For 30-year easements, the payment will equal 30 percent of what would be paid for a permanent easement, minus the land’s grazing value.

Rental agreements provide yearly payments equal to 75 percent of the land’s grazing value for the length of the agreement. In Franklin County, that is equal to $8 per acre.

This program is designed to help protect farmland, provide some revenue to farmers and help ensure that open-space is available to farmers in the future.

Grounds used for the production of hay may also be enrolled in the program.

Although the sign-up is ongoing, the final application date for this sign-up period is Aug. 8. Applications will be ranked based on the land’s vulnerability to cropping and development, location and other factors.

To participate, offers must be on privately owned land that includes at least 40 contiguous acres. Waivers may be authorized for less than the required acreage if a smaller parcel is capable of achieving the program’s goals. Additional eligibility criteria apply.

For more information on this program, people can contact the Franklin County USDA service center at 778-2788 or visit the Web site www.nres.usda.gov/programs.