FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2001
USDA Farm Service Agency Announces the 2001 Pasture Recovery Program
COLUMBIA---Mr. J. Kenneth Rentiers, Jr., State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency, is pleased to announce the 2001 Pasture Recovery Program. The purpose of the Pasture Recovery Program (PRP) is to reestablish pastureland that is normally grazed, and is so damaged or destroyed by drought, that seeding is required to reestablish the pasture. Land normally harvested for hay is ineligible.
Only pastureland located in Counties approved for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) in calendar year 2000 is eligible. The following Counties in S.C. are eligible for 2001 PRP: Abbeville, Aiken, Anderson, Berkeley, Charleston, Cherokee, Chester, Clarendon, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Kershaw, Lancaster, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union, Williamsburg, and York.
Payments for producers that are approved PRP contracts will not exceed 65% of the average cost to reestablish the pasture. Nationally if PRP funds requested exceed the available PRP funding, a factor will be determined by the National Office and uniformly applied to all requests for payment. The maximum payment a person can receive under PRP is $2,500.
Practices established under 2001 PRP contract must be maintained until December 31, 2004. There shall be no mechanical harvesting of the forage crop for the lifespan of the practice.
Signup for 2001 PRP ends May 11, 2001. No late filed applications will be accepted. Producers that reseed before completing an application for PRP are ineligible. For more information, call your local USDA FSA listed in the telephone directory.