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Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program
Established in 1862, the Department of Agriculture serves all Americans through anti-hunger efforts, stewardship of nearly 200 million acres of national forest and rangelands, and through product safety and conservation efforts. The USDA opens markets for American farmers and ranchers and provides food for needy people around the world.
For more information on this and other related conservation programs, consult the local telephone directory where your land is located for location of the USDA service center.
NRCS, FSA, and many local conservation districts are located in USDA service centers.
For a list of NRCS State Office telephone numbers and addresses, see Appendix IV of the Catalog or visit the NRCS National Website at http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app.
Selected Recipients for this Program
| Recipient | Amount | Start Date | End Date | |
| Univ-missouri | $ 7,000 | 2010-09-15 | 2011-09-30 | |
| Natural Resources Conservation Service | $ 75,000 | 2008-09-04 | 2009-09-30 | |
| Appling, County Of | $ 2,177 | 2009-08-26 | 2009-09-30 | |
| National Wild Turkey Federation, Inc. | $ 3,500 | 2009-08-24 | 2009-09-30 | |
| Walton County | $ 1,022 | 2009-08-28 | 2009-09-30 | |
| Clemson University | $ 45,000 | 2008-07-31 | 2008-09-30 | |
| $ 0 | ||||
| $ 0 | ||||
| $ 0 | ||||
| $ 0 |
Program Accomplishments
Not Applicable.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Technical assistance is provided to develop a WHIP Plan of Operation (WPO) for eligible participants.
Cost-share payments may be made to implement fish and wildlife habitat conservation practices.
Up to seventy-five percent cost-share is available from NRCS to reimburse participants for installing conservation practices beneficial to wildlife.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Applicant must meet Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation (HEL/WC) requirements, Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) requirements, verification that applicant will be in control of land for the duration of a contract.
Beneficiary Eligibility
A participant may be an owner, landlord, operator, or tenant of eligible lands. Limited resource producers, small-scale producers, producers of minority groups, Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, Alaska natives, and Pacific Islanders are encouraged to apply.
Credentials/Documentation
Evidence that applicant has control over land to be entered into contract and submits an acceptable Wildlife Habitat Development Plan for the land unit of concern that incorporates needed wildlife habitat conservation practices. This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. This program was repealed by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill), effective February 7, 2014. Therefore, no new enrollments are authorized for this program after that date.
Award Procedures
NRCS may designate a wildlife habitat type or a region of special wildlife habitat concern as a priority. The priorities are designated by the State Conservationist based on recommendations of local working groups which are convened by the local conservation district with recommendations from the State Technical Committee. NRCS will give special consideration to applicants who have WPOs that address wildlife habitat concerns consistent with National and state priorities. Applications will be ranked and selected for funding.
Deadlines
Not Applicable.
Authorization
Food Security Act of 1985. This program was repealed by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill), effective February 7, 2014. Therefore, no new enrollments are authorized for this program after that date., Title XII, Part subtitle D, Section 1244h, Public Law 99-198, 16 U.S.C 3831.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Not Applicable.
Appeals
A participant may appeal any adverse determination to NRCS.
Renewals
Not Applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching Requirements: Percent: 25%. Installation of cost-share practices to develop wildlife habitat can be funded by cost-sharing up to 75 percent of the total cost of establishing the conservation practice by NRCS. Program participants or nonfederal partners provide the remaining 25 percent. Other conservation practices may be required to be installed without program payments. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
The WHIP cost-share agreement period is a minimum of 1 to 10 years. Obligations for assistance are tied to the schedule for applying wildlife habitat conservation practices included in the WPO used as the basis for cost-share agreement. Payments are made when the participant and NRCS certify that a conservation practice is completed in accordance with the cost-share agreement. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
No reports are required.
Audits
This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements. This program was repealed by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill), effective February 7, 2014. Therefore, no new enrollments are authorized for this program after that date.
Records
Maintained in the NRCS state office and Federal records centers for specified number of years.
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-1004-0-1-302; 12-3322-0-1-302.
Obigations
(Salaries) FY 16 $8,401,000; FY 17 est $12,064,000; and FY 18 est $0. (Direct Payments for Specified Use) FY 16 $543,000; FY 17 est $786,000; and FY 18 est $8,000,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Average contract payments are estimated to be $4,500.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
7 CFR Part 636. Program is announced through news media and in announcements to agricultural producers, farm and ranch owners and operators in the county. Program manuals, handbooks, and leaflets issued by NRCS and FSA.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices. For more information on this and other related conservation programs, consult the local telephone directory where your land is located for location of the USDA service center. NRCS, FSA, and many local conservation districts are located in USDA service centers. For a list of NRCS State Office telephone numbers and addresses, see Appendix IV of the Catalog or visit the NRCS National Website at http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app.
Headquarters Office
Jeffrey White Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1400 Independence Ave, SW; Room 5237-S;, Washington, District of Columbia 20250 Email: Jeffery.White@wdc.usda.gov Phone: (202) 720-1844
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Applications will be ranked and selected for funding based on: The wildlife habitat benefits derived and the extent the cost-share agreement will assist in achieving the wildlife habitat priority goals and objectives in the area the land unit is located.
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