Farmers and landowners in 29 counties have until Feb. 21 to submit applications to receive cost-share assistance to implement conservation activities through the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) for the 2014 program year.
The 29 counties are part of the Arkansas Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Quail Focal Area. The area includes Ashley, Baxter, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Clark, Cleburne, Cleveland, Columbia, Conway, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Faulkner, Fulton, Hempstead, Izard, Lafayette, Lincoln, Marion, Nevada, Ouachita, Perry, Pike, Searcy, Stone, Union, Van Buren and White counties. Producers can sign up at their local USDA NRCS field service center.
“WHIP is a valuable tool to facilitate environmental improvements for wildlife, encouraging producers to be good stewards of the land,” said Mike Sullivan, state conservationist.
The program addresses wildlife habitat in the quail focal area. This area will have specific conservation practices eligible for cost-sharing that benefit quail.
Applicants will be ranked according to how the wildlife habitat development plan will affect quail populations. The plans will be developed according to landowner objectives with assistance from an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologist and an NRCS conservationist. The plans will be implemented during a long-term agreement that generally lasts from five to 10 years.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
A wildlife habitat development plan outlines management practices as well as establishment practices such as planting and seeding. Plans include practices to manage plant succession in fields and forests and may prescribe management techniques such as burning, disking and mowing herbaceous stands.
WHIP is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private land.
For more information on the program, visit http://www.ar.nrcs.usda.gov or contact the local USDA/NRCS field service center.