PIERRE, S.D. – The S.D. Game Fish and Parks Department, Pheasants Forever and USDA Farm Service Agency are pleased to announce that the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement program is ready for enrollment.
Under the enhancement program, also known as SAFE, state agencies along with other groups were given the opportunity to submit proposals to USDA’s Farm Service Agency for an additional continuous CRP practice (CP-38). GFP’s approved proposal designates 20,200 acres for pheasant nesting habitat with 500 acres to be used for sage grouse habitat in northwestern South Dakota.
Unlike most other continuous CRP practices, SAFE acres can be used to enroll larger acreages. “SAFE acres give producers a greater measure of control over where they want to place habitat for pheasants and other wildlife,” said GFP habitat biologist Rocco Murano.
CP-38 acres are eligible for an up-front signing incentive payment of $100 per acre, up to 50 percent cost-share for establishing vegetative cover, and a practice incentive payment equal to 40 percent of the cost of installing the practice. “CP-38 is an excellent way to increase pheasant nesting, roosting and brood rearing cover on your property,” according to GFP Senior Upland Game Biologist Chad Switzer. “In addition, SAFE acres may be utilized to re-enroll CRP acres that expired in 2007 and those expiring in the fall at a new rental rate.”
For additional information and application assistance regarding CP-38 please contact your local USDA service center or visit http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/PrivateLands/PFBiologists.pdf to find your local Pheasants Forever Farm Bill biologist.
If you are interested in hunting pheasants in South Dakota, visit this page.
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