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 Declines in upland bird populations, such as the northern
bobwhite, pheasant, and prairie chicken, led to the creation of
new Conservation Reserve Program features to help restore
habitats for these species in these agricultural areas. Since
the program’s creation in 2004, more than 240,000 acres of
marginal cropland has been converted to native grasslands,
spurring an increase in upland bird populations.
In recent years, however, applications for this type of habitat
creation have slowed. To encourage more participation, USDA’s
new policy focuses on farmland with center-pivot irrigation
systems where there are circular areas of cropland with patches
of land beyond the reach of irrigation. Until now, these patches
– known as pivot corners – were only eligible for habitat
creation when connected by a linear strip of grassland also
enrolled in the program. The new policy allows producers
interested in habitat creation to use disconnected pivot corners
to help increase the population of upland birds.
Other species that can benefit from today’s change include the
mourning dove, wild turkey, several sparrows, meadowlark and
bobolinks. |
The Conservation Reserve Program is a voluntary program. FSA
contracts with agricultural landowners so that environmentally
sensitive land is not farmed but instead used for conservation.
Participants establish long-term plant species that control soil
erosion, sequester carbon, improve water quality, and strengthen
declining wildlife populations. In return, participants receive
annual rental payments between 10 and 15 years.
Interested landowners can enroll pivot corners in the
Conservation Reserve Program at any time. Participants and land
must meet certain eligibility requirements. Other restrictions
may apply. For additional details, contact your local Farm
Service Agency office at offices.usda.gov or visit the website
at www.fsa.usda.gov/conservation.
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