Prairie

Farm Bill Conservation Programs

Prairies are important ecosystems that are slowly fading from the American landscape. Prairies are level or rolling grasslands composed of perennial grasses, with many species of flowering plants of the pea and composite families. Prairies provide native habitat for birds, pollinators, insects and other wildlife. They are drought tolerant, hold soils in place, and absorb water. A recent bill, The American Prairie Conservation Act of 2017, protects prairie land nationally through a provision known as “Sodsaver.” The American Prairies Conservation Act will preserve grasslands by limiting crop insurance premium subsidies on newly broken native sod. It also directs USDA to collect data and report on grassland loss across the country.

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Conservation Reserve Program

Website: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/conservation-programs/conservation-reserve-program/

• Grasslands
• Grasslands Reserve Program

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Environmental Quality Incentives Program

Website: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/ms/programs/financial/eqip/?cid=nrcs142p2_017159
Overview: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/ms/programs/?cid=nrcs142p2_017154

• EQIP 2017 Grazing Practices
  
  • Practice List
• Pertinent Declining Wildlife Habitat Practices
  
  • Practice List
• Natural Resource Enterprises
  
  • Native Grass

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Best Management Practices

Grazing Lands:


Declining Wildlife Habitats (Prairie):

• Brush Management (314)
• Herbaceous Weed Control (315)
• Riparian Herbaceous Cover (390)
• Riparian Forest Buffer (391)
• Hedgerow (422)
• Forage and Biomass Planting (512)
• Tree and Shrub Establishment (612)
• Prescibed Burnings
• Firebreak (394)
• Early Successional Habitat Development and Management (647)