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 “The
USDA has a long track record of fostering and supporting the
vital relationship between agriculture and conservation, and the
new Northern Bobwhite Pilot Project helps our producers be good
stewards of their lands and boost wildlife populations at the
same time,” said Tammy Willis, NRCS State Conservationist in
Illinois. “These efforts demonstrate the power of USDA’s Farm
Bill conservation programs to conserve wildlife habitat, protect
clean water and address climate change in partnership with
farmers, ranchers, forest owners and conservation organizations
across the country.”
The Northern Bobwhite Pilot Project, offered by the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through Working Lands for
Wildlife, provided dedicated funding of $13 million -- for
fiscal year 2024 -- in new assistance through the Environmental
Quality Incentives Program. This is for producers to help the
bobwhite and other game and non-game species by managing their
working lands for early successional habitat while meeting their
lands natural resource and production goals.
This new pilot includes funding to support producers in Alabama,
Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota,
Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
NRCS accepts applications year-round for EQIP. Interested
producers in Illinois should contact or visit their local USDA
Service Center to enroll. Find your local service center at
https://www.nrcs.
usda.gov/conservation-basics/
conservation-by-state/illinois#
contact to start.
The Northern Bobwhite Pilot Project supports the 5-year,
7-million-acre goal of the Working Lands for Wildlife Northern
Bobwhite, Grasslands and Savannas Framework for Conservation
Action unveiled in 2022 by USDA. Recently, NRCS expanded the
Climate- Smart Agriculture and Forestry Mitigation Activities
that qualify for funding through the Inflation Reduction Act.
Those funds will also be critical to Working Lands for
Wildlife’s success in reaching its long-term goals.
The Northern Bobwhite Pilot Project advances USDA’s efforts in
climate-smart agriculture with almost 20 climate-smart practices
being deployed voluntarily on private lands, including field
borders, brush management, tillage management, prescribed
burning, prescribed grazing, forest stand improvement and
herbaceous weed treatment. More than 17 conservation practices
that support climate smart mitigation are included in the
Northern Bobwhite Pilot Project.
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New ‘Bobscapes’ App
NRCS and Quail Forever are also supporting northern bobwhite
conservation with a new “Bobscapes” mobile app for citizen
science reporting that will help researchers better understand
population dynamics and help managers direct resources for
habitat work where those investments will be most effective in
recovering the species. Additionally, for those interested, the
app will connect landowners to technical experts who can make
habitat recommendations and share information on voluntary cost
share programs. Bobscapes reporting adheres to protection of
personally identifiable information for citizens and for
bobwhite locations. Lastly, the data provided will assist
wildlife biologists in creating a national habitat network of
“Bobwhite landscapes” necessary to ensure this species persists
for future generations.
More Information
Producers and landowners interested in the Northern Bobwhite
Pilot Project should contact NRCS at their local USDA Service
Center to sign up now.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many
positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is
transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more
resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for
all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious
food in all communities, building new markets and streams of
income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and
forestry practices, making historic investments in
infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America,
and committing to equity across the Department by removing
systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative
of America. To learn more, visit nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state/illinois.
[Patrick, Aaron - FPAC-NRCS]
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