dbltree
Super Moderator
There are many great federal and state cost share programs that can be very helpful in establishing new/better habitat and conservation practices.
Sometimes it's difficult to keep track of all of them so I'm going to list the ones I'm aware of and if I'm missing any...please post them here in this thread.
Many if not most programs can be accessed through your local NRCS office but IDNR forestors and private lands biologists can help get you started as well.
WHIP
The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private land. Through WHIP USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service provides both technical assistance and up to 75 percent cost-share assistance to establish and improve fish and wildlife habitat. WHIP agreements between NRCS and the participant generally last from 5 to 10 years from the date the agreement is signed.
EQIP
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program. It supports production agriculture and environmental quality as compatible goals. Through EQIP, farmers may receive financial and technical help with structural and management conservation practices on agricultural land.
2009 EQUIP Practice List
TSI and Brush Management are just a couple examples of cost share programs available at 50% cost share.
Conservation Reserve Program
FSA/CRP
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program for agricultural landowners. Through CRP, you can receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource conserving covers on eligible farmland.
Guide to Continuous CRP Practices
CSP
Conservation Security Program (CSP) The CSP is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to producers who advance the conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, plant and animal life, and other conservation purposes on Tribal and private working lands. Such lands include cropland, grassland, prairie land, improved pasture, and range land, as well as forested land and other non-cropped areas that are an incidental part of the agriculture operation.
WRP
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Wetlands were restored or enhanced on 4,447 acres in Iowa during FY2007 with assistance from the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). These restored wetlands provide important flood reduction as well as wildlife habitat and other environmental benefits. More than 137,000 acres of wetlands have been restored or are in the process of being restored under wetland easement programs in Iowa since 1992.
A Guide to Conservation Programs for Iowa Landowners
This guide is a list of all programs that may offer cost share assistance providing funding is available.
FSA Conservation Program Information
If you register through USDA you can apply for some programs online as well.
The Iowa DNR can offer assistance with many programs as well, some of which may be funded through REAP.
Cost-Share Programs Available for Private Landowners in Iowa
Programs are available to provide cost-share reimbursement to private landowners who are engaged in wildlife habitat related conservation work. Practices such as seeding native grasses and forbs, wetland restoration, woody invasion removal, prescribed fire, early successional habitat creation, and habitat improvements for species of greatest conservation need may be eligible for cost-sharing on private lands.
That link will also provide a link to Private Lands Biologist's in your area who will be happy to help assist you.
***NOTE*** some PLB have thier own equipment and will want to do the work for you which is fine. You will need to pay the difference if there is 50 or 75% costs share. In many cases such as planting trees, prairiegrass seedings or timber stand improvment you may be able to do the work yourself and pay yourself and save some money....keep that in mind...
Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP)
Timber Stand Improvment (TSI) and Tree Planting are two cost share practices that may be funded through REAP
SAFE CRP
Up to 27,700 acres of land can be enrolled in a continuous CRP called SAFE, which stands for State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement.
Programs like SAFE are limited and many have already exhuasted quotas but they do pop up and we need to be awareand ready to apply should we have land or situations that will qualify.
Iowa DNR Districts and District Foresters
Our district foresters are an excellent place to start when considering projects like tree planting or timber stand improvment. They will walk your property and timber with you and explore possible improvments. They most likely will not understand when you talk about "knocking over" some "junk trees" for bedding areas however.... /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
Private Lands Management Assistance
This link has sample plans to help you with improving your timber with TSI for which cost share is available as well. TSI can be hired out in which case you will pay the difference or with some help from you forestor and some friendly advice right here on IW, you can do it yourself and pay yourself.
Some tax incentives include:
Iowa's Forest Reserve Law
I encourage you to read the law carefully but most timber not being pastured will qualify.
Native Prairie, Wetland, and Wildlife Habitat Tax Exemption
I also urge you to ecplore and read through allof the links for other possibles such as conservation easments, low interest loans for building ponds and fish for stocking them. No one is going to lead you to these things..you need to do some home work and find out what is available.
Private organizations are also good sources to keep in mind for free or low cost seed, planning and planting prairie and tree plantings depending on where you live in the state.
Pheasants Forever (PF) is one well worth joining and being aware of all that they have to offer.
It varies by county and it may require checking with either NRCS or your local County Conservation Board. Some counties offer "grants" to cover the costs of seed, fertilizer and herbicide to establish food plots while others may offer free or low costs seeds such as corn, milo, sunflowers ad sometimes even NWSG seed.
Habitat Forever, LLC (PF) can help get things done if you don't have equipment and/or time.
Quail Forever (QF) offers most of the same services as a sister organization to PF
National Wild Turkey Federation also offers low cost or free seed and seedlings and also offer $600 grants to establish trees and green food plots (such as clover) and in Iowa applications are available thruough your IDNR
Private Lands Biologists.
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
Federal FWS Grants
I'm sure I am missing something or someone so please help me add to this list and remind me when a new program becomes available.
Restoring Oak Savanna's
Nature Conservancy Article
Contact:
Sometimes it's difficult to keep track of all of them so I'm going to list the ones I'm aware of and if I'm missing any...please post them here in this thread.
Many if not most programs can be accessed through your local NRCS office but IDNR forestors and private lands biologists can help get you started as well.
WHIP
The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private land. Through WHIP USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service provides both technical assistance and up to 75 percent cost-share assistance to establish and improve fish and wildlife habitat. WHIP agreements between NRCS and the participant generally last from 5 to 10 years from the date the agreement is signed.
EQIP
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program. It supports production agriculture and environmental quality as compatible goals. Through EQIP, farmers may receive financial and technical help with structural and management conservation practices on agricultural land.
2009 EQUIP Practice List
TSI and Brush Management are just a couple examples of cost share programs available at 50% cost share.
Conservation Reserve Program
FSA/CRP
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program for agricultural landowners. Through CRP, you can receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource conserving covers on eligible farmland.
Guide to Continuous CRP Practices
CSP
Conservation Security Program (CSP) The CSP is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to producers who advance the conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, plant and animal life, and other conservation purposes on Tribal and private working lands. Such lands include cropland, grassland, prairie land, improved pasture, and range land, as well as forested land and other non-cropped areas that are an incidental part of the agriculture operation.
WRP
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Wetlands were restored or enhanced on 4,447 acres in Iowa during FY2007 with assistance from the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). These restored wetlands provide important flood reduction as well as wildlife habitat and other environmental benefits. More than 137,000 acres of wetlands have been restored or are in the process of being restored under wetland easement programs in Iowa since 1992.
A Guide to Conservation Programs for Iowa Landowners
This guide is a list of all programs that may offer cost share assistance providing funding is available.
FSA Conservation Program Information
If you register through USDA you can apply for some programs online as well.
The Iowa DNR can offer assistance with many programs as well, some of which may be funded through REAP.
Cost-Share Programs Available for Private Landowners in Iowa
Programs are available to provide cost-share reimbursement to private landowners who are engaged in wildlife habitat related conservation work. Practices such as seeding native grasses and forbs, wetland restoration, woody invasion removal, prescribed fire, early successional habitat creation, and habitat improvements for species of greatest conservation need may be eligible for cost-sharing on private lands.
That link will also provide a link to Private Lands Biologist's in your area who will be happy to help assist you.
***NOTE*** some PLB have thier own equipment and will want to do the work for you which is fine. You will need to pay the difference if there is 50 or 75% costs share. In many cases such as planting trees, prairiegrass seedings or timber stand improvment you may be able to do the work yourself and pay yourself and save some money....keep that in mind...
Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP)
Timber Stand Improvment (TSI) and Tree Planting are two cost share practices that may be funded through REAP
SAFE CRP
Up to 27,700 acres of land can be enrolled in a continuous CRP called SAFE, which stands for State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement.
Programs like SAFE are limited and many have already exhuasted quotas but they do pop up and we need to be awareand ready to apply should we have land or situations that will qualify.
Iowa DNR Districts and District Foresters
Our district foresters are an excellent place to start when considering projects like tree planting or timber stand improvment. They will walk your property and timber with you and explore possible improvments. They most likely will not understand when you talk about "knocking over" some "junk trees" for bedding areas however.... /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
Private Lands Management Assistance
This link has sample plans to help you with improving your timber with TSI for which cost share is available as well. TSI can be hired out in which case you will pay the difference or with some help from you forestor and some friendly advice right here on IW, you can do it yourself and pay yourself.
Some tax incentives include:
Iowa's Forest Reserve Law
I encourage you to read the law carefully but most timber not being pastured will qualify.
Native Prairie, Wetland, and Wildlife Habitat Tax Exemption
I also urge you to ecplore and read through allof the links for other possibles such as conservation easments, low interest loans for building ponds and fish for stocking them. No one is going to lead you to these things..you need to do some home work and find out what is available.
Private organizations are also good sources to keep in mind for free or low cost seed, planning and planting prairie and tree plantings depending on where you live in the state.
Pheasants Forever (PF) is one well worth joining and being aware of all that they have to offer.
It varies by county and it may require checking with either NRCS or your local County Conservation Board. Some counties offer "grants" to cover the costs of seed, fertilizer and herbicide to establish food plots while others may offer free or low costs seeds such as corn, milo, sunflowers ad sometimes even NWSG seed.
Habitat Forever, LLC (PF) can help get things done if you don't have equipment and/or time.
Quail Forever (QF) offers most of the same services as a sister organization to PF
National Wild Turkey Federation also offers low cost or free seed and seedlings and also offer $600 grants to establish trees and green food plots (such as clover) and in Iowa applications are available thruough your IDNR
Private Lands Biologists.
Dave will be promoting wildlife habitat development on both existing and new CRP. He will be writing planting plans for anyone that has an interest in practices beneficial to wildlife, such as tree plantings, food plots, etc. so give Dave a call even if you have an older existing CRP plan.
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
Please see the post below because many species qualify and even more benefit.
Federal FWS Grants
I'm sure I am missing something or someone so please help me add to this list and remind me when a new program becomes available.
Restoring Oak Savanna's
Nature Conservancy Article
Contact:
Cost share certainly helps us all improve our wildlife habitat not only for whitetails but all wildlife
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