A landuser places feed near a redosier dogwood shrub, a popular resting place for pheasants and other birds Full page view

Overview of New York Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to help participants develop fish and wildlife habitat on private agricultural land, non-industrial private forest land, and Indian land. It is administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

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• Am I eligible?

• What are my options?

• What is the funding?

• How are payment levels determined?

• Are there options for historically underserved farmers?

• What are the contract obligations?

• What do I need to do to apply?

• What do I do next?

• How can I find out more?

Am I eligible?

Landowners with eligible agricultural lands including cropland, grassland, pasture, and other land determined by NRCS to be suitable for wildlife habitat development are eligible to apply. Applicants must meet eligibility for Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) certification and be in compliance with the highly Erodible Land and wetland Provisions of the Food security Act of 1985 as amended.

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What are my options?

In In 2009, WHIP in New York will focus on establishing and enhancing Grassland Habitat for declining bird species, pollinators, and other grassland wildlife species. Applicants will compete for funding through a Statewide pool.

Examples of eligible practices include:

• Planting of new wildlife seedings

• Management activities like mowing and fertilizing

• Prescribed burning

• Obstruction removal

More information about Conservation Practices can be found at the USDA NRCS Electronic Field Office Technical Guide (eFOTG).

For a complete list of eligible conservation practices, please refer to the table of Payment Schedules on this page.

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What is the funding?

New York has established a contract cap of $50,000 for WHIP contracts.

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How are payment levels determined?

Each eligible conservation practice has a Practice Payment Rate (PPR) which is a fixed amount based on a percentage of the state average cost of a typical installation of that practice.

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Are there options for historically underserved farmers?

The 2008 Farm Bill offers program opportunities for "Historically Underserved" individuals and groups. The Practice Payment rate for "Historically Underserved" is higher than the general rate.

These groups are:

• Socially Disadvantaged Groups

• Limited Resource Farmers and Ranchers

• Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

• Indian Tribes

More information is available at the NRCS Socially Disadvantaged, Beginning, and Limited Resource Farmers/Ranchers Web page.

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What are the contract obligations?

New contracts in New York will be between five and ten years in length. At least one practice from the contract must be started in the first twelve months, and no practices may be scheduled in the last year of the contract. Producers can be held financially liable for unfulfilled contracts.

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What do I need to do to apply?

You need to sign form NRCS-CPA-1200, Conservation Program Application. Applications for 2009 must be received by May 29, 2009. Forms are available at your local USDA NRCS office or you can download the form.

WHIP Update!
NRCS Announces Extension of 2009 Sign-Up for Conservation Assistance

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NRCS CPA-1200, Conservation Program Application (PDF; 33 KB)

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What do I do next?

After applying at your local NRCS office, an NRCS conservationist will help you finalize a conservation plan, including selecting conservation practices. Your application will be ranked based upon national, state and local ranking criteria. Applications will be selected for funding based on these criteria. You will be notified once funding decisions have been made.

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How can I find out more?

Contact your local USDA NRCS office, or visit the NRCS New York Web site.

• National NRCS WHIP Web site

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WHIP in New York (PDF; 112 KB)

A printable version of the information presented on this page.

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