southernblues
New member
Just submitted application (before Nov 15 deadline) for ~50 acres of existing fescue to be transitioned to native/upland habitat through WHIP program. This pasture borders another 40 acres of prairie and beautiful native grasses -- up to 90% of the cost share to get that crud out and put in the good stuff.
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb1041995.pdf
Up to 25 percent of WHIP funds will be
available for long-term cost-share agreements
(15 years or longer) to protect and restore WHIP Fact Sheet page 2
essential plant and animal habitat. NRCS can
pay up to 90 percent of the cost to install
conservation practices in these long-term
agreements. Essential plant and animal habitat
includes critical habitat designated under
federal and state law, locations of listed or
candidate species that can be improved with
specific conservation practices, or particularly
rare and unique habitats that could support atrisk wildlife species.
Legislative and Regulatory Changes
The 2008 Farm Bill amended Section 1240N
by designating eligible land as private
agricultural land, nonindustrial private forest
land, and Tribal lands. Land ineligible for
WHIP is publicly-owned lands (Federal, State,
County, or Local government owned lands).
Cost share for long-term agreements for
essential plant and animal habitat is amended
to increase from 15 percent to 25 percent of
funds made available for the fiscal year.
Payments under WHIP made to a person or
legal entity directly or indirectly, “shall not
exceed, in the aggregate, $50,000 per year.”
Funding for WHIP through 2012 is authorized
at $85,000,000 per fiscal year.
The new farm bill will allow landowners to
receive payments to develop other types of
wildlife habitat, including habitat established
on pivot corners and irregular areas
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb1041995.pdf
Up to 25 percent of WHIP funds will be
available for long-term cost-share agreements
(15 years or longer) to protect and restore WHIP Fact Sheet page 2
essential plant and animal habitat. NRCS can
pay up to 90 percent of the cost to install
conservation practices in these long-term
agreements. Essential plant and animal habitat
includes critical habitat designated under
federal and state law, locations of listed or
candidate species that can be improved with
specific conservation practices, or particularly
rare and unique habitats that could support atrisk wildlife species.
Legislative and Regulatory Changes
The 2008 Farm Bill amended Section 1240N
by designating eligible land as private
agricultural land, nonindustrial private forest
land, and Tribal lands. Land ineligible for
WHIP is publicly-owned lands (Federal, State,
County, or Local government owned lands).
Cost share for long-term agreements for
essential plant and animal habitat is amended
to increase from 15 percent to 25 percent of
funds made available for the fiscal year.
Payments under WHIP made to a person or
legal entity directly or indirectly, “shall not
exceed, in the aggregate, $50,000 per year.”
Funding for WHIP through 2012 is authorized
at $85,000,000 per fiscal year.
The new farm bill will allow landowners to
receive payments to develop other types of
wildlife habitat, including habitat established
on pivot corners and irregular areas
Should be a good project. Make it pretty then tell all your neighbors about it!!! You need to cover the township with it.