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Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program
Preservation of wildlife is not only in the best
interest of hunters, it enhances the lives of everyone, and has a
place in every conservation plan. In an attempt to reverse the trend of fence-to-fence farming which eliminated much of the
land's permanent cover, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administer the "Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program" (WHIP) in this district.
The
goal of the program is to provide habitat in order to maintain a natural balance for wildlife. Hunters, hikers and
others who enjoy the beauty of the outdoors will benefit by the establishment and preservation of natural habitat.
General Rules for All Practices:
1. Contracts may be entered into October 1 through April 1.
Landowners agreeing to allow Public Access will have first priority.
2. Land within 200 yards of inhabited dwellings or
feedlots does not qualify.
3. Farm ponds, up to 5 acres, will qualify if an equal area of surrounding land is included.
Stream borders also qualify, but not the stream itself.
4. Grazing, haying, or other harvest measures are prohibited
unless
stated as acceptable in a specific practice.
5. Weeds shall be controlled as required by noxious weed law and with prior
approval by the NRD. Control must be accomplished without destruction of wildlife cover.
6. Noncompliance or termination
of
the contract by the landowner will result in forfeiture of all payments. Material payment must be repaid in these cases.
7.
Change in land ownership voids the contract, however, an owner may sign a contract for the time remaining in the original
contract.
8. Contract areas which call for seeding must be seeded during the first spring of the contract period or the previous fall.
PRACTICE I -- Establishing Permanent Habitat on Existing Cropland
Designed to remove small areas of cropland from
production and to establish habitat. An annual per acre rate is paid as well as the cost of some or all of the planting materials.
CONTRACT
TERM: 5 years
PAYMENT RATE: $25 per acre per year
MINIMUM SIZE: 5 acres per cooperator; 2.5 acres per plot
MAXIMUM SIZE: 40
acres
HABITAT MATERIAL RATES: Payment is made on 100% of the actual material cost, not planting cost, and not to exceed: $60/acre
warm season grass/legume mix; $50/100 tree/shrub planting
MINIMUM STANDARDS: Tree planting must consist of at least three (3) rows; one cedar
or conifer, one shrub and the third row is the landowner's choice.
PRACTICE II -- Permanent Wetland Enhancement
This practice must include a minimum of 25% of total contract acreage in uplands. Uplands are to be
established to permanent
vegetation as specified on site development plan.
CONTRACT TERM: 10 years
PAYMENT RATE: $15/acre annually
MINIMUM SIZE: 5 acres per cooperator;
2.5 acres per plot
MAXIMUM SIZE: 40 acres
HABITAT MATERIAL RATES: Payment is made on 100% of actual material cost, not planting cost, and not to
exceed: $60/acre for warm season grass/legume mix; $50/100 for tree/shrub plantings.
PRACTICE III -- Improvement of Existing Habitat
This practice encourages a variety of habitat improvements on land that has existing cover and is
not currently being
cropped.
CONTRACT TERM: 10 years
PAYMENT RATES: $15/acre per year
MINIMUM SIZE: 5 acres per cooperator; 2.5 acres per plot
MAXIMUM SIZE:
40 acres
HABITAT MATERIAL RATES: Payment is made on 100% of actual material costs, not planting cost, and not to exceed; $50/100
tree/shrub planting
MINIMUM STANDARDS: Tree planting must consist of at least three (3) rows; one cedar or conifer, one shrub and the third row
is the landowner's choice.
PRACTICE IVc -- Streambank Protection
This practice is designed to protect streambank riparian habitat for wildlife by developing and maintaining a grass and tree
buffer strip parallel to the stream. The contract area may be cropland, grass, or trees (expiring CRP will qualify for
enrollment). The stream may be intermittent but must have some annual flow without heavy rain. Fencing will be required if
necessary to prevent grazing. The area may be hayed once a year or grazed up to two weeks from July 15-August 15 at the
landowners option with reduced payment (advanced notification is required). Cost of fencing material will be provided up to
the county average cost, where fencing is necessary.
CONTRACT TERM: 10 years
MINIMUM SIZE: 2 acres
MAXIMUM SIZE: 20 acres
CONTRACT AREA: Strip of land on one or both sides of a stream 66'-200' wide beginning at the water's edge
MAXIMUM SIZE: 20 acres
COVER TYPE: Existing cover or cropland may be planted to approved mixtures of grass and/or trees.
PAYMENT RATE: $50 per acre per year. $20 per acre per year if hayed or grazed.
HABITAT MATERIAL RATES: Payment is made on 100% of actual material costs, not planting cost, and not to exceed: $60/acre for
warm season grass/legume mix; $50/100 for tree/shrub plantings
PRACTICE IVe -- Tree Planting on CRP Acres
(Conservation Reserve Program)
Landowners enrolled in CRP may plant trees for wildlife under this practice. Windbreaks are eligible if they meet the
minimum standards. No firewood or timber plantings are allowed. There is no annual payment, but reimbursement for trees,
planting, and spraying is made through FSA-CRP (50%) and the LENRD (50%).
CONTRACT TERM: Contract will concur with CRP contract (10 years in most cases).
PAYMENT RATE: CRP acres receive an annual payment from USDA-FSA.
MINIMUM STANDARDS: Tree planting must consist of at least three (3) rows; one cedar or conifer, one shrub and the third row
is the landowner's choice. The landowner will fence trees or otherwise exclude grazing upon CRP contract termination. The
LENRD will not provide fencing material.
PRACTICE IVf -- Wildlife Food Plots on CRP Acres
This practice will provide food and cover for wildlife during winter months and provide additional edge and diversity to
large blocks of grassland. This will increase nesting and brood rearing cover for upland game birds. In addition, these
plots will serve as firebreaks, protecting trees and buildings, and will facilitate the use of prescribed burnings.
CONTRACT TERM: Three year minimum with landowner option to extend the contract annually to the end of the CRP contract.
PAYMENT RATE: $50/acre per year
MINIMUM SIZE: 20 foot wide (six rows of corn/milo) amounting to one acre
MAXIMUM SIZE: 40 foot wide (12 rows of corn/milo) amounting to no more than 5% of total CRP tract. Example: 160 acre CRP
tract could have no more than 8 acres.
MINIMUM STANDARDS: Seed bearing varieties of milo or corn or a combination may be planted. Plots are to be prepared,
planted, fertilized and cultivated annually at the proper time, and under proper conditions to insure adequate seed
production. If upon termination of this contract there have been three (3) years of successful food plots established, the
cooperator will be reimbursed for grass seed to establish permanent cover in place of the food plot.
Weed Barrier Cost Share
Landowners applying for tree planting practices of the WHIP may also apply for the weed barrier
cost share. Landowners may
order six foot wide strips of weed barrier fabric which may be installed by the LENRD or the landowner may install mats,
which replace spray or mechanical weed control. Cost-sharing is set at 33%. Participating Pheasants Forever Chapters may
provide an additional 33% cost-share. WHIP funds may be used in cooperation with other funds, either public or private, but
total cost-share may not exceed 66%. The landowner must pay at least 34% of the cost of weed barrier.
CONTRACT TERM: Corresponds with term of the WHIP practice applied for.
MINIMUM SIZE: 600 linear feet of weed barrier or 200 mats
MAXIMUM SIZE: 8,000 linear feet of weed barrier or
5,000 mats
Public Access Option
Cooperators in practice I, II, III, IVc or IVf will receive an additional $5 per acre per year
and
will be the top priority
for approval for agreeing to permit access on contracted land. Access by foot traffic only - for the purpose of hunting,
fishing, hiking and trapping.
For assistance in preparing your wildlife habitat plan, contact your local Natural
Resources Conservation Service office.
This program is sponsored by: the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission,
Pheasants Forever, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
For more information e-mail Julie Wragge,
Information/Education Coordinator for the Lower Elkhorn NRD, or call her at
402-371-7313
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