Several southeast Nebraska counties included in USDA Upland Wildlife Habitat project

BEATRICE - More acreage and better habitat are on the way for several upland wildlife species in southeast Nebraska. 

Nebraska USDA Farm Service Agency Executive Director John Berge is announcing the opening of applications for a special Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) initiative designed to increase habitat for upland wildlife. 

69 of Nebraska's 93 counties are included in the project... Southeast Nebraska counties include Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Otoe, Pawnee, Nemaha, Richardson, Saline, Seward, and Thayer. 

The Upland Wildlife State Acres for Wildlife Enchantment CRP aims to develop more and better habitat for upland wildlife such as Greater-Prairie Chickens, Northern Bobwhite, Plains Sharp-Tailed Grouse, Ring-Necked Pheasants, songbirds and pollinators. It also is designed to improve water quality and soil health and reduce soil erosion and sequester carbon. 

The project is a joint effort between the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service, Nebraska Game and Parks, and Pheasants Forever of Nebraska. The proposal was approved in September.  

Landowners must offer tracts with a minimum of five acres. There is no maximum number of acres per tract. Cropland must have been planted or considered planted to an agricultural commodity four of the six crop years from 2012-2017 or meet a rotation between 2006-2017. Landowners with expired or expiring CRP can offer acres for re-enrollment.