Ohio Pollinator and 

Monarch SAFE

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)

Overview

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Ohio 

Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, and Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever are partners 

in implementing a State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement 

(SAFE) project to enroll agricultural land in 43 counties 

throughout Ohio. The purpose of the Ohio Pollinator 

& Monarch SAFE is to establish diverse stands that will 

provide stable and long-term sources of pollen, nectar, host 

plant resources, and ground nesting habitat for monarch 

butterflies and other pollinators.

Background

SAFE is part of the USDA Conservation Reserve Program 

(CRP). CRP is a federally funded voluntary program that 

contracts with landowners and agricultural producers to 

establish and manage vegetative covers that control soil 

erosion, improve water quality, and provide wildlife habitat. 

SAFE is a unique type of CRP that offers organizations 

the opportunity to partner with the USDA to establish 

habitat for high-priority wildlife species on agricultural 

land. SAFE sponsors work with the USDA to identify the 

wildlife species, the vegetative cover that provides habitat 

for the target species, and the location in the state where 

the habitat is needed. A partnership is formed between the 

SAFE sponsor and the USDA, and federal funds are made 

available to allow for CRP enrollment on eligible land within 

the SAFE project location.

Target Wildlife Species

The goal of the Ohio Pollinator & Monarch SAFE project 

is to provide habitat for monarchs and other pollinators. 

Pollinators, including wild bees, are important to Ohio 

because they have suffered significant population declines 

and play an important role in the agricultural economy.

Habitat

Landowners and agricultural producers participating in the 

Ohio Pollinator & Monarch SAFE are required to develop a 

conservation plan with assistance from the USDA Natural 

Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or a technical 

service provider. The conservation plan will provide details 

on how to plant, establish, and manage habitat for monarchs 

and other pollinators. The habitat being established will 

include a diverse seeding mix best suited for monarch 

and pollinator habitat. This will address both adult nectar 

and larval food source requirements. After the habitat is 

established, it will need to be maintained and managed by 

controlling weeds and either disking, herbicide application, 

prescribed burning, prescribed mowing, flash grazing, or 

interseeding to maintain plant diversity. Proper habitat 

establishment, maintenance, and management will maximize 

benefits for monarchs and other pollinators.

MAY 2023 OHIO
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE) 2

Project Location

The Ohio Pollinator and Monarch SAFE project location 

includes Allen, Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Carroll, 

Clermont, Columbiana, Coshocton, Erie, Franklin, Guernsey, 

Harrison, Henry, Hocking, Holmes, Huron, Jefferson, 

Licking, Lorain, Lucas, Mahoning, Medina, Meigs, Mercer, 

Montgomery, Morgan, Muskingum, Ottawa, Perry, Portage, 

Putnam, Richland, Sandusky, Scioto, Stark, Trumbull, 

Tuscarawas, Van Wert, Vinton, Warren, Washington, 

Wayne, and Wood counties.

Eligible CRP Practices

This SAFE project uses the following CRP practices:

 CP38E-4D, SAFE Permanent Wildlife Habitat

Haying and Grazing

Haying is not permitted on acreage enrolled under the Ohio 

Pollinator and Monarch SAFE. Flash grazing may be utilized 

as a management activity and must be completed according 

to a prescribed grazing plan developed by NRCS.

Eligibility Requirements

Because SAFE is part of CRP, certain land and participant 

eligibility rules apply. To begin with, land must be in the 

project area and meet cropping history. CRP participant 

eligibility rules also apply to SAFE.

Payments and Incentives

In exchange for participation in CRP SAFE, the Farm 

Service Agency (FSA) provides participants with annual 

per acre rental payments, cost-share to assist with habitat 

establishment expenses, and in some cases additional 

monetary incentives.

For More Information

This fact sheet is provided for informational purposes only; 

other restrictions or requirements may apply. Consult your 

local FSA office for details. For more information, contact 

your local service center and USDA Farm Service Agency 

office: farmers.gov/service-locator.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. fsa.usda.gov/oh
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE)

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. fsa.usda.gov/oh

Ohio Pollinator and Monarch SAFE Project Map

MAY 2023