WV NRCS Announces Additional WHIP Sign-Up

MORGANTOWN, WV, June 12, 2007—The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announces a second Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) ranking period closing on June 29, 2007. “This second ranking period allows West Virginia NRCS to consider funding applicants who applied for the program after the first ranking period closed on December 15, 2006,” said Kevin Wickey, West Virginia State Conservationist. “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. WHIP may help.”

Any eligible landowner in West Virginia may apply at local USDA Service Centers. Applications for WHIP will be evaluated, ranked, and selected until available funding is exhausted. Even though the sign-up for this program is continuous, there is a cut-off date when ranking will occur. Farmers and landowners in West Virginia have until June 29, 2007 to submit an application to be considered for this round of WHIP rankings. Eligible applications submitted for previous ranking periods remain on file for consideration for this ranking period.

WHIP is a voluntary program to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private land. Through WHIP, NRCS provides both technical assistance and 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

In 2006, wildlife habitat management plans and contracts were completed on 14,143 acres for 86 landowners in West Virginia.

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/

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