[Carpenter] [Fwd: GRP Questions]

[Kevin Carpenter]

Not sure why this didn't flow to the list, but:

Kevin:

Sorry it took me awhile to answer your email but I wanted to make sure
you got the right information.

1)  What restrictions does this program put on us?  e.g.  We can only
hay
during certain months, we need to keep a minimum grass height of 4", we
can only graze certain months... Every GRP participant is required to
have a
grazing management plan for the enrolled acres.  A conservation planner
in
your local field office will assist you with the grazing management
plan.  The
plan will outline what you can and can not do for the life of the rental
contract
or on the permanent easement.  The grazing management plan will address
all
offered/contract acres.  Each paddock/hayland field in the plan will be
identified
as either predominately warm season or cool season species.  The plan
will
address nesting season restrictions as follows:

Warm Season - haying or seed harvest activities are NOT permitted during

the primary nesting season (May 1 thru July 15)

Cool Season - haying, seed harvest, or grazing activities are NOT
permitted
on 25% of offered cool seasonn acres during the primary nesting season
(May 1 thru July 15) - when grazing and/or haying/seeding activities are
restricted on 25% of offered acres, ungrazed or unharvested areas should
be blocked togethere to the extent possible

2)  There is a rumor floating around that a certain portion of the land
must be in trees?  That didn't make any sense to me, but please address.
No, that is false information.

3)  Is there any "set aside" requirements?  e.g.  A portion of the land
that must be left native?  You can not do anything that will diminish
the grassland value.  If the acres are native at time of enrollment they
will be required to remain native, however; you are not required to
convert any of the contracted acres from introduced vegetation to
native vegetation.  If, to you, "set-aside" means deferment of haying
or grazing  see the answer to #1 above.

4)  I'm guessing we need to provide tree control (obviously, haying does
that), but we are curious.  You can not do anything that will diminish
the grassland value.  Allowing trees to grow up in the grassland would
do so.

5)  If we went "permanent", what would the payment be taxed as?  I'd
guess
capital gains - like the sales of property - but there is a BIG
difference
between that and it being taxed as ordinary income.  It's NRCS's policy
to
encourage the applicant to discuss these financial matters with your Tax
Preparer, Certified Public Accountant, or the Internal Revenue Service.


Dan Yager