Mississippi Bobwhite 

Quail Habitat SAFE

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)

Overview

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

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks are partners 

in implementing the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement 

(SAFE) project. The purpose of this program is to enroll 

agricultural land to increase native grassland habitats 

in Mississippi for the restoration of northern bobwhite 

habitat and populations.

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 Mississippi Bobwhite Quail Habitat SAFE 

project is to provide habitat for Northern Bobwhite Quail, 

LeConte’s Sparrow, Loggerhead Shrike, and Eastern 

Cottontail Rabbit. The Northern Bobwhite Quail, LeConte’s 

Sparrow, Loggerhead Shrike, and Eastern Cottontail 

Rabbit are important to Mississippi because they are 

listed as species of greatest conservation concern within 

Mississippi’s State Wildlife Action Plan.

Habitat

Landowners and agricultural producers participating in 

Mississippi Bobwhite Quail Habitat SAFE are required 

to develop a conservation plan with assistance from the 

Natural Resources Conservation Service or a technical 

service provider. The conservation plan will provide details 

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

Bobwhite Quail, LeConte’s Sparrow, Loggerhead Shrike, and 

Eastern Cottontail Rabbit. The habitat being established is 

native grassland communities, primarily native warm-season 

grasses and appropriate forbs, established and managed for 

bobwhite quail and early successional wildlife habitat. After 

the habitat is established, it will need to be maintained and 

managed by herbicide application, strip-disking, or prescribe 

fire. Rotational prescribe fire and/or strip-disking should 

be limited to no more than one-half of acreage each year 

or as determined in the conservation plan. Proper habitat 

establishment, maintenance, and management will maximize 

benefits for Northern Bobwhite Quail, LeConte’s Sparrow, 

Loggerhead Shrike, and Eastern Cottontail Rabbit.

JUNE 2023 MISSISSIPPI
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE) 2

Project Location

The Mississippi Bobwhite Quail Habitat SAFE project 

location is available in the follow 29 counties in Mississippi: 

Alcorn, Benton, Bolivar, Chickasaw, Clay, Coahoma, Desoto, 

Hinds, Holmes, Humphreys, Lee, Leflore, Lowndes, Madison, 

Marshall, Monroe, Noxubee, Panola, Pontotoc, Prentiss, 

Quitman, Sharkey, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, 

Tunica, Union, and Yazoo counties.

Eligible CRP Practices

This SAFE project uses the following CRP practices:

 CP38E-2, Permanent Native Grass Habitat

 CP38E-4D, Permanent Wildlife Habitat

Haying and Grazing

No haying or grazing allowed.

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

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/ms

Mississippi Bobwhite Quail Habitat SAFE Project Map

JUNE 2023