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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) U.S. Department of Agriculture North Dakota Farm Service Agency Executive Director Aaron Krauter says 82,800 acres in North Dakota are now available for wildlife habitat improvement incentives.

Krauter says we can accept more applications to enroll more acres in North Dakota for farmers and ranchers interested in protecting local pheasant, prairie chickens and waterfow. He says in exchange for creating more grasslands and wetlands for these species, USDA will provide participating landowners with rental payments and help with expenses.

The increased opportunity is split between two programs, both part of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) whereby Farm Service Agency contracts with landowners so that environmentally sensitive land is not farmed or ranched, but instead used for conservation.  Of the new allocation, 50,000 acres are devoted to the Farmable Wetlands Program (FWP), and 32,800 acres are devoted to the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) program.

Program participants establish long-term plant species to control soil erosion, improve water quality, or strengthen declining wildlife populations. In return, participants receive annual rental payments between 10 and 15 years.

The SAFE program allows state fish and wildlife agencies, non-profit organizations and other conservation partners to target the Conservation Reserve Program within distinct geographic areas to help wildlife. SAFE is limited to 1.35 million acres nationally, with 97 projects in 36 states and Puerto Rico.

The FWP program is a voluntary program to restore farmable wetlands and associated buffers by improving the land’s hydrology and vegetation.

Interested landowners can enroll acres in a designated wildlife project in their state at any time. Participants and land must meet certain eligibility requirements. Other restrictions may apply. For additional details, contact your local Farm Service Agency office at offices.usda.gov or visit the website at www.fsa.usda.gov/conservation.