The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Nesting Bird Habitat Incentive Program (NBHIP) is partnering with the California Waterfowl Association to accept applications for a variety of programs for farmers and private landowners this spring. Applications will be open until March 31st and include the following programs: Fallow Agriculture, Delayed Cereal Grain Harvest and Upland Management Agreements. Below are the key details for each of the programs.
- This program provides an incentive for farmers that are willing to delay the termination of the vegetation in fallow agricultural fields until July 15th or later. Eligible fields must have vegetation on over 60% of the field with an average height of at least 8 inches by April 1st.
- Acceptable nesting cover includes planted cover crops or volunteer vegetation.
- The program is compatible with water transfers and prevented planting insurance.
- Payment rates are $30/acre for fields with suitable volunteer vegetation and $110/acre for fields with established planted cover crops.
- This program provides an incentive to farmers that are willing to delay the harvest of their grain fields until at least July 15th, which allows ground-nesting birds to hatch and exit the field before harvest occurs. Farmers are some of the best waterfowl conservationists in the state, and we’re excited to provide them with an opportunity to help boost our local mallard and pheasant populations.
- The payment rate is $50/acre and there may be opportunities for additional payments for increased monitoring activities.
- Upland Management Agreements provide financial assistance to improve and maintain upland habitats. Through this program, landowners may enroll in 3-year agreements and receive an Annual Work Plan that provides detailed descriptions of work that must be completed to improve upland/grassland habitat on their property.
- Must be perennial grass upland habitats on private lands and there is a 10-acre minimum.
- Must have Summer water that is located within 1/2 mile of upland.
- The incentive rate for this program is $30/acre and payments.
The application period is open until March 31, 2025, and applications must be filled out on the CWA Website.
For questions, please contact Jason Coslovich at (408) 644-3525 or coslovich@calwaterfowl.org
