Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program

Sign-up for this program is on a continuous basis. However, in order to be considered for fiscal year 2012 funds, you need to submit an application by October 1, 2011. Landowners who are interested in this program can apply at their local county USDA Service Center.

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 financial assistance to establish and improve fish and wildlife habitat. WHIP agreements between NRCS and the participant last up to one year after the last planned practice and generally not more than 5 years.

WHIP has proven to be a highly effective and widely accepted program across the country. By targeting wildlife habitat projects on all lands and aquatic areas, WHIP provides assistance to conservation minded landowners who are unable to meet the specific eligibility requirements of other USDA conservation programs.

The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 reauthorized WHIP as a voluntary approach to improving wildlife habitat in our Nation. Program administration of WHIP is provided under the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

WHIP Information

2012 WHIP Required Documents

    - Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to visit their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) and register as a program applicant, if they have not already done so, to complete the necessary paperwork to determine eligibility.

PLEASE NOTE: Practices started or completed before NRCS signs the contract are not eligible for payments, in accordance with program regulation and the Conservation Program Contract (CPC) appendix. Starting a practice or engaging the services of a technical service provider (TSP) before the contract is approved by NRCS renders an applicant ineligible for payment unless a waiver has been granted by the State Conservationist. Requests for a waiver to this provision must be made in writing. Waivers may be considered in special cases for meritorious reasons for applications that meet all eligibility requirements, provided that the practice was not started when the waiver application is made.

2012 WHIP Funding Pool Information

Landowners and/or operators who are interested in applying to the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) have the opportunity to apply under one of the following two funding pools:

Upland Wildlife Management Pool – This funding pool is for applicants who wish to address wildlife habitat concerns on private agricultural lands or non industrial private forest land, which include cropland, grassland, pasture, cropped woodlands, marshes, incidental areas included in the ag operation, and other types of land used for or having the potential to be used for production. These lands include landscapes from actively used hay fields to pastures that are growing in (less than 25% woody cover). Landowners and operators can apply for practices that support upland wildlife habitat such as delayed mowing/brush hogging practices, grassland bird management (early cut followed by delayed second cut), tree planting/buffer practices and invasive plant control. Practices are also available to support aquatic habitat such as fish passage and livestock exclusion practices.

New England – New York Forestry Initiative – The goal of this initiative is to expand stewardship opportunities within WHIP for private forest lands (lands with existing tree cover or that is suitable for growing trees) through forest land planning. Conservation practices that improve wildlife habitat, forest health and productivity, and water quality are offered through this initiative. These practices include but are not limited to Forest Stand Improvement, Upland Wildlife Habitat Management, Forest Trails and Landings, Early Successional Habitat Management, Brush Management, Herbaceous Weed Control, etc. Applicants with forestland or in fields with 25% or more woody cover (aerial canopy cover) of tree species should be directed this pool. Forest Management Plans are only offered for cost share through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) as a Conservation Activity Plan (CAP). A Forestry Pool is also offered through EQIP for forest landowners who need to install practice that help to address forest health, water quality and soil erosion issues. These practices include but are not limited to Riparian Forest Buffer, Brush Management (invasive species control), Early Successional Habitat Management, Forest Stand Improvement, Forest Trails and Landings (to correct erosion concerns on existing trails only) and Access Road (to correct erosion concerns on existing roads only). Landowners with little to no wildlife practices (e.g. only Forest Trails and Landings) should be directed to EQIP Forestry Pool. More information about the WHIP Forestry Initiative is available on the Vermont NRCS WHIP Forestry Initiative web page.

2012 WHIP Information

2012 WHIP Grassland Bird Management

Grassland Bird Management Brochure (PDF; 1,287 KB)

Heather Wetzstein    
Phone: 802-951-6796 ext. 223
Email: heather.wetzstein@vt.usda.gov