The conservation provisions of the 2002 Farm Bill are vitally important to private land habitat development in South Dakota and provide management alternatives to producers to address soil erosion and water quality concerns.

Many conservation programs exist in the current Farm Bill, but the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is the most widely recognized and most successful program for the wildlife resources of South Dakota. With approximately 1.55 million acres of CRP currently on the landscape in South Dakota, large blocks of undisturbed nesting cover provided by CRP has allowed South Dakota’s pheasant population to reach 35-year highs, with hunters harvesting approximately 1.9 millions pheasants in 2005 (SD GFP, http://www.sdgpf.info/Wildlife/hunting/Pheasants/Stats.htm).

CRP containing prairie pothole wetlands found over much of eastern South Dakota, has proven beneficial to other wetland/grassland dependent species and on a continental perspective, increased population levels of breeding waterfowl.

Other Farm Bill programs that provide or enhance wildlife habitat include the Wetland Reserve Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program, Grassland Reserve Program and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

SD GFP’s Private Lands Habitat Program is designed to complement and take advantage of existing conservation programs offered by the current Farm Bill. With Congress currently in the process of developing the 2007 Farm Bill, SD GFP will remain flexible to adapt current habitat programs to fully maximize those programs offered in the new Farm Bill.

FARM BILL PROGRAMS

Photo: Chad Switzer, SD Game, Fish & Parks

USDA Farm Service Agency
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=copr&topic=landing

USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
http://www.sd.nrcs.usda.gov/

CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM

USDA Farm Service Agency's (FSA) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program available to agricultural producers to help them safeguard environmentally sensitive land. Producers enrolled in CRP plant long-term, resource-conserving covers to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat. In return, FSA provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance. Contract duration is between 10 and 15 years.

http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/crp07.pdf

CONTINUOUS CONSERVE RESERVE PROGRAM

The Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP) is a voluntary program, available at any time, which helps agricultural producers safeguard environmentally sensitive land. CRP participants plant long-term, resource-conserving covers to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat. In return, FSA provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance.

Eligible conservation practices include riparian buffers, wildlife habitat buffers, wetland buffers, filter strips, wetland restoration, grass waterways, shelterbelts, living snow fence, contour grass strips, salt tolerant vegetation, and shallow water areas for wildlife.

http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/crpcont06.pdf

Links to USDA Fact Sheets by Practice (PDF format)

State Acres For Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)

South Dakota Pheasants SAFE

The goal of the South Dakota Pheasants SAFE project is to enroll 20,200 acres in CRP to provide block grass acreages for ring-necked pheasants and other upland birds in the form of nesting, brood-rearing, winter-roosting and escape cover. This will help increase the overall population of ring-necked pheasants and other economically significant species such as sharp tail grouse, prairie chicken and upland nesting ducks. It will also develop habitat for non-game grassland birds, improve water quality and reduce soil erosion.

South Dakota Sagebrush SAFE

The goal of the South Dakota Sagebrush SAFE project is to enroll 500 acres in CRP to benefit the sage grouse population by restoring cropland to sagebrush habitat suitable for sage grouse and other sagebrush obligate birds such as sage sparrows and sage thrashers. Other sagebrush-associated wildlife will benefit such as sharp-tailed grouse, gray partridge, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, sagebrush vole and other small mammals. One of the measurable outcomes will be to stabilize or increase the number of sage grouse leks (mating areas) and to increase the number of sage grouse in the project area.

CRP Duck Nesting Habitat Initiative (Fact Sheet)
The Duck Nesting Habitat Initiative aims to restore up to 100,000 acres of certain wetlands located outside of the 100-year floodplain in Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Restoring these wetlands will provide nesting ducks with critical habitat, nesting cover, security from predators, and food.
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/crpduck06.pdf
CP-37 Map

CRP Wetlands Restoration Initiative
The Wetlands Restoration Initiative aims to restore up to 250,000 acres of wetlands and playa lakes that are located outside of the 100-year floodplain.
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/nonfloodwet04.pdf

CRP Farmable Wetlands Program
The Farmable Wetlands Program (FWP) is a voluntary program to restore farmable wetlands and associated buffers by improving the land's hydrology and vegetation.
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/farmwetland04.pdf
SD GFP Farmable Wetlands Program Incentive

CRP Northern Bobwhite Quail Habitat Initiative (Fact Sheet)
The Northern Bobwhite Quail Habitat Initiative is aimed at creating 250,000 acres of habitat for the northern bobwhite quail. The initiative introduces a conservation practice intended to create 250,000 acres of early successional grass buffers along agricultural field borders.
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/quail04.pdf

OTHER USDA PROGRAMS

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program that assists farmers and ranchers with implementing new conservation measures to address their natural resource concerns. EQIP promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible national goals while optimizing environmental benefits.
http://www.sd.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/2007_EQIP.html

Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)
The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance grasslands on their property. The program will conserve vulnerable grasslands from conversion to cropland or other uses and conserve valuable grasslands by helping maintain viable ranching operations.
http://www.sd.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/GRP.html

Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)
The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their property. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical and financial assistance to eligible landowners.
http://www.sd.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/WRP.html

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program that provides both technical and financial assistance to private landowners to develop and improve fish and wildlife habitat.
http://www.sd.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/2007_WHIP.html