NEWS

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
9173 W. Barnes Dr., Suite B
Boise, Idaho 83709

For more information:
Lee Brooks 378 5720


NRCS ANNOUNCES SIGNUP FOR WILDLIFE HABITAT INCENTIVES PROGRAM

BOISE, FEB. 4, 2003—The Natural Resources Conservation Service is accepting applications now through March 14 for its fiscal year 2003 Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP). Applicants who applied for the program last year and did not receive funding must submit new applications for 2003.

Applications received after Mar. 14 will be accepted based on availability of funds and ranking numbers.

The 2002 Farm Bill reauthorized WHIP and expanded funding. It is a voluntary program that encourages creation of high quality wildlife habitat on privately owned land, state or local government land and Tribal lands, according to Richard Sims, NRCS state conservationist. Through WHIP, NRCS provides cost share assistance of up to 75 percent of the costs of certain conservation practices to improve wildlife habitat.

WHIP assistance is provided primarily for upland, wetland, riparian and aquatic habitat. Idaho’s WHIP priorities are restoration of native vegetation on riparian, wetland, shrub/steppe and grassland habitats and restoration of habitat for threatened and endangered plant and animal species and state-listed "species of special concern."

For more information, landowners should contact their local NRCS office or USDA Service Center listed under U.S. Government, Department of Agriculture in the phone book.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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