The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association has joined the Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Farm Service Agency to announce a new disaster assistance program available to ranchers.

The Grassland Reserve Program assists landowners and operators in protecting grazing uses and related conservation values by restoring eligible grassland and other lands through rental contracts and easements. GRP allows landowners in drought-stricken counties to be compensated to defer cattle grazing until grassland conditions improve.

"Cattlemen are always talking about which disaster was the worst," said TSCRA director Beau White, a rancher from Rosanky, Texas. "In my short experience, the answer is easy. It is the one you are currently dealing with.

"This program comes at a time when Mother Nature is dealing Texas cattlemen some devastating blows through salt-water intrusion from hurricanes, wildfires and now severe drought.

"Cattlemen should carefully review the program to see if it may benefit their operations," White said.

Interested ranchers can submit an application through the local USDA NRCS office. Applications will be accepted throughout the year.

For more information, contact Claude Ross, state GRP manager, at (254) 742-9822 or Mark Habiger, NRCS assistant state conservationist for programs, at (254) 742-9881. Or visit www.texascattleraisers.org/ drought.html for programs details.