WHAT IS A GRASSLAND EASEMENT?
A grassland easement is a legal agreement signed with the United States of America, through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) that pays you to permanently keep your land in grass. Many landowners never plan on putting their land into crop production and can benefit from the added cash incentive of a grassland easement. Land covered by a grassland easement may not be cultivated. Mowing, haying, and grass seed harvesting must be delayed until after July 15 each year. This restriction is to help grassland nesting species, such as ducks and pheasants, complete their nesting before the grass is disturbed. Grazing is not restricted in anyway. WHY PROTECT GRASSLANDS? Vast grasslands once covered much of North America. Settlement, agriculture, and development have reduced prairie habitats to a patchwork of isolated grasslands in a sea of croplands, roads, and cities. Loss of grasslands is detrimental to people as well as to wildlife. Grasslands help reduce soil erosion caused by win
