Announcement of the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program Fund Availability

Contact: Jasper Parker, 405-742-1243

The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announces the availability of funds for the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) for fiscal year 2006. According to NRCS State Conservationist M. Darrel Dominick, WHIP provides cost-share and technical assistance for development and/or improvement of wildlife habitat on private lands. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) technicians and biologists will continue to evaluate and rank eligible applications for WHIP according to the updated contribution agreement between the two agencies. They will be responsible for evaluating and ranking all applications received, and will provide technical support for contract implementation upon contract approval.

All privately owned rural lands are eligible for participation in WHIP. Applicants must have their farm records established and an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) certification in place with the Farm Service Agency (FSA). In addition, the applicant must be in compliance with the highly erodible land and wetlands conservation provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985. One million dollars were obligated in 2005 providing wildlife benefits covering over 28,000 acres through 48 landowner agreements. Conservation practices applied this past year include such things as removing invasive brush and non-beneficial weedy plants (2,312 acres) degrading native grasslands. Also, livestock grazing management practices were implemented such as ponds, wells and tanks, fencing (10,105 feet) and vegetative plantings that established or enhanced cover and food for wildlife. Conservation buffers were also established to improve water quality in streams and provide corridors for wildlife.

Applications will be taken on a continuous sign-up basis, and high priority applications, based on specific statewide ranking criteria, will be selected for funding from a statewide pool. Local NRCS field offices will begin accepting applications immediately and previous applications will be promoted for consideration if the applicant desires. Only applications received by December 15, 2005, will be ranked and considered during this initial application ranking and selection period.  Applications after that date will continue to be evaluated and maintained for possible future funding as workload permits. Successful applicants will be notified after February 15, 2006, for eventual contract development until the available funds are obligated. All successful applicants will be required to develop, implement, and maintain a Wildlife Habitat Development Plan (WHDP) during their individual WHIP contract period. For details about the WHIP program or to make an application, contact the local NRCS Field Service Center.

All programs and services of the Natural Resources Conservation Service are provided in a nondiscriminatory manner.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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