Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program designed to provide technical and financial assistance to landowners for the establishment and improvement of fish and wildlife habitat.  Ranking criteria are used to select the applicants with a conservation plan that will create, enhance or protect wildlife habitat by types of wildlife habitat. 

WHIP activities are carried out according to a site specific wildlife conservation plan developed in conjunction with the producer. All wildlife practices are installed according to NRCS technical standards. Producers may elect to use an approved technical service provider for technical assistance.

WHIP offers contracts with a maximum term of 10 years. Program payments for individual practices will vary based on the average cost for a practice's implementation. Eligibility for WHIP is subject to the adjusted gross income provision of the 2008 Farm Bill.

The information on this page lists general WHIP information including ranking criteria, and provides a pre-application tool that will assist landowners to make choices about their conservation plans.

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Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program "At a glance"
Final Rule for WHIP

Michigan 2011 WHIP Documents

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General Program Information for Fiscal Year 2011
At-Risk Indicator Species
State Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program Plan for Michigan
Priority Habitats
Messic Conifer Priority Areas
Ranking Questions:
Funding Pool Regions (Text Version)
Funding Pool Regions (Map)
Essential Plant and Animal Habitat Ranking Questions
Forestland Ranking Questions:
Frigid Soils North
Frigid Soils South
Mesic Soils West
Mesic Soils East
Grasslands Ranking Questions:
Frigid Soils North
Frigid Soils South
Mesic Soils West
Mesic Soils East
National Evaluation and Ranking Questions:
Beginning Farmer Ranking Tool
Socially Disadvantaged Ranking Tool
Tribal Ranking Tool
Invasive Species:
Invasive Species List - Eastern Upper Peninsula
Invasive Species List - Western Upper Peninsula
Invasive Species List - Northern Lower Peninsula
Invasive Species List - Southern Lower Peninsula
Michigan Eco-regions for Invasive Species (map and text versions)
Eligible Practices & Payments
Conservation Practices Eligible for WHIP
Wild Flower Plantings
Tribal Only Practices
2011 Payment Schedule

Forms

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Conservation Program Application NRCS-CPA-1200   Coming Soon!
Apéndice del Formulario NRCS-CPA-1200, Contrato del Programa de Incentivos de Calidad Ambiental   ¡Proximamente!

USDA Service Center eForms Web Site - for instructions and information.

Contact

To apply for WHIP, contact your local USDA Service Center. 
Michigan Field Office Directory

For general questions about WHIP contact the Michigan NRCS WHIP Coordinator.

WHIP Coordinator
Brian Thomas
Phone:  517-324-5259
E-mail:  brian.thomas@mi.usda.gov

Last Modified 02/09/2011