Goal is to encourage more monarch butterflies, pheasants, ducks and grassland birds to frequent southern Michigan
Starting Monday, June 4, 2018, the United States Department of Agriculture will accept offers from rural landowners in 41 southern Michigan counties who want to voluntarily restore pollinator and wildlife habitat on their property. The solicitation is through the USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE), Southern Michigan Pheasant and Monarch Recovery, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Pheasants Forever, Inc.
“Any landowner in an eligible area is invited to visit their nearest Michigan USDA Service Center to learn about the Conservation Reserve Program and the pheasant and monarch recovery effort,” said DNR Director Keith Creagh. “We will accept up to 40,000 acres of environmentally sensitive land for the program, and work closely with the USDA, partners and landowners to improve wildlife habitat.”
SAFE is a federally funded voluntary program that assists agricultural producers and landowners with the cost of restoring, enhancing and protecting certain grasses, shrubs and trees to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and reduce loss of wildlife habitat. In return, participants are provided annual rental payments, cost-share assistance and other financial incentives.
Eligible Michigan counties include Allegan, Arenac, Barry, Bay, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Clare, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Gladwin, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Huron, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Mecosta, Midland, Monroe, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Ottawa, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Tuscola, Van Buren and Washtenaw. Read more