WHIP Helps Farmers and Wildlife

MORGANTOWN WV, February 8, 2006–Many West Virginia landowners are interested in managing their lands for wildlife but need technical advice and financial assistance to help cover the costs of habitat enhancement. The Natural Resources Conversation Service (NRCS) Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) may help.

WHIP is a voluntary program to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private land. Through WHIP, NRCS provides both technical assistance and up to 75 percent cost-share assistance to establish and improve wildlife habitat.

West Virginia NRCS targets four major habitat types for technical and financial assistance:

• Development of riparian areas for improved water quality and wildlife habitat

• Farm wildlife for small game habitat such as cottontail rabbits and native grasslands for songbirds

• Protection of rare threatened and endangered species such as the federally endangered clubshell mussel

• Woodland wildlife species habitat improvements for ruffed grouse and wild turkey

Last year, wildlife habitat management plans and contracts were completed on 25,741 acres for 140 landowners in West Virginia.

To participate, landowners submit an application with their local NRCS or conservation district office. Farmers and landowners in West Virginia have until March 3, 2006 to submit applications to be considered for this round of WHIP funding. Applications received after March 3 will be held until the next round of funding.

For more information, please contact your local USDA Service Center, listed in the telephone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture, or your local conservation district. Information also is available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.wv.nrcs.usda.gov/.

-end-

< Back to 2006 News Releases