Conservation Corner: November 8, 1999

Financial Help For Conservation Available
by James L. Cummins

The Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act, or the 1996 Farm Bill as it is commonly called, which was passed by Congress and signed by the President, has some very beneficial provisions for fish and wildlife conservation.

According to Peyton Self, President of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation, or Wildlife Mississippi as it is commonly called, "One of the goals of the Conservation Title of the 1996 Farm Bill was to achieve the greatest amount of conservation with the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars. We are very pleased that the continuous sign-up, which began on October 1, has a much more user-friendly approach for landowners."

Cost-share programs in the sign-up are: EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program), FIP (Forestry Incentives Program) and WRP (Wetland Reserve Program). In addition to these Natural Resource Conservation Programs, the Farm Service Agency has a continuous sign-up for the CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) for high priority practices.

Participants in these programs must own or control land and agree to prepare and implement a management plan which contains certain conservation practices to be installed on the land. The plan describes the landowner's goals for conservation, including the practices necessary to achieve such goals.

The participant and the specific agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture must enter into an agreement to implement the plan; the agreement lasts 5-15 years and the easement for WRP lasts either 30 years or is perpetual. NRCS agrees to provide the necessary technical assistance and pay 75 percent of the cost of installing the wildlife habitat practices. Approval may be granted for cost-share assistance for not more than $10,000. Under the Program, applications are ranked and point values are assigned to the land that is submitted for financial assistance. Applications with the most points will be funded.

Practices in these programs will help provide cover for wildlife, including the planting of trees, as well as nesting and brood rearing habitat for species like turkey and quail. Aquatic habitats and water quality can be improved by establishing habitat adjacent to streams. Wildlife habitat can also be improved through these programs by creating small openings in forest stands. Another priority is to establish woody and/or grass corridors.

A later date will be announced for ranking applications. Landowners should contact their local office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service in their local U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Center for further information.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi.