Illinois Pheasant

Initiative SAFE

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)

Overview

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Illinois 

Department of Natural Resources are partners in 

implementing a State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement 

(SAFE) project to enroll agricultural land in 46 counties in 

central, north and northwestern Illinois. The purpose of the 

Illinois Pheasant Initiative SAFE to restore grassland habitat 

for pheasant and other grassland dependent species.

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 Illinois Pheasant Initiative SAFE project 

is to provide habitat for Ring-necked Pheasant. Habitat 

established through the Illinois Pheasant SAFE initiative will 

secure critical habitat for many of Illinois’ species in greatest 

need of conservation, including ring-necked pheasant.

Habitat

Landowners and agricultural producers participating in the 

Illinois Pheasant Initiative 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 

Ring-necked Pheasant. The habitat being established is 

grassland habitats consisting primarily of native grasses 

and forbs. After the habitat is established, it will need 

to be maintained and managed by completing activities 

designed to enhance the cover such as prescribed burning, 

disking, strip herbicide application or interseeding. At least 

one management activity is required to be completed 

1 time every four years. Proper habitat establishment, 

maintenance, and management will maximize benefits for 

the Ring-necked Pheasant.

MAY 2023 ILLINOIS

Photo by Adele Hodde
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE) 2

Project Location

The Illinois Quail Initiative SAFE project location includes 

the following 46 counties: Jo Daviess, Stephenson, 

Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Lake, Carrol, Ogle, DeKalb, 

Kane, DuPage, Cook, Whiteside, Lee, Kendall, Will, Henry, 

Knox, Stark, Bureau, Putnam, Marshall, LaSalle, Grundy, 

Livingston, Kankakee, Iroquois, Peoria, Woodford, Tazwell, 

McLean, Ford, Menard, Logan, Dewitt, Champaign, 

Vermilion, Sangamon, Macon, Piatt, Moultrie, Douglas, 

Edgar, Coles, Shelby and Christian. Participants in these 

counties are required to enroll a minimum of 10-acres per 

contract. Multiple touching fields may be enrolled to meet 

the 10-acre minimum.

Eligible CRP Practices

This SAFE project uses the following CRP practices:

 CP38B-9, Shallow Water Areas for Wildlife

 CP38B-23A, SAFE Wetland Restoration, NonFloodplain

 CP38E-2, SAFE Permanent Native Grasses and 

Legumes

 CP38E-4D, SAFE Permanent Wildlife Habitat, Noneasement

 CP38E-25, SAFE Rare and Declining Habitat

 CP38E-33, Habitat Buffer for Upland Birds

 CP38E-43, Prairie Strips

 CP38E-12, Wildlife Food Plot

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

Photo by Phil Borsdorf 

Haying and Grazing

Non-emergency haying and grazing and emergency haying 

and grazing are not authorized in the Illinois Pheasant 

Initiative SAFE project area.

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.
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE)

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

Illinois Pheasant Initiative SAFE Project Map

MAY 2023