Montana SagebrushGrassland Restoration SAFE

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)

Overview

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

Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, coordination with 

the Northern Great Plains Joint Venture, are partners in 

implementing a State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement 

(SAFE) project to convert cropland to sagebrush habitat 

suitable for greater sage-grouse and other wildlife species 

associated with sagebrush communities. Sagebrush 

ecosystems provide habitat for more than 350 species 

of plants and animals. The purpose of the Montana 

Sagebrush-Grassland Restoration SAFE is to restore big 

sagebrush and associated native grasses, forbs, and shrubs 

to meet life history requirements, especially for brood 

habitat, of greater sage-grouse.

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 Montana Sagebrush-Grassland 

Restoration SAFE project is to provide habitat for the 

greater sage-grouse and associated sagebrush-obligate 

species. Greater sage-grouse are an iconic species of 

sagebrush ecosystems. As sagebrush communities have 

been lost, fragmented, or declined, greater sage-grouse 

distribution has contracted. Greater sage-grouse exhibit 

nearly complete reliance on sagebrush for roosting, 

hiding, nesting cover, and food, with greater sage-grouse 

feeding almost exclusively on big sagebrush leaves during 

the winter. Greater sage-grouse population viability is 

dependent on juvenile survival.

Habitat

Landowners and agricultural producers participating in 

the Montana Sagebrush-Grassland Restoration 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 greater sage-grouse. The cover to be established 

must include a mix of big sagebrush and a number of native 

grass and forb species. After the habitat is established, it 

will need to be maintained and managed by grazing. Proper 

habitat establishment, maintenance, and management will 

maximize benefits for greater sage-grouse and other species 

common to sagebrush ecosystems.

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

Project Location

The Montana Sagebrush-Grassland Restoration SAFE is 

widely distributed being located in portions of: Big Horn, 

Carbon, Carter, Fallon, Fergus, Garfield, Golden Valley, 

Musselshell, Petroleum, Powder River, Rosebud, and 

Treasure counties.

Eligible CRP Practices

This SAFE project uses the following CRP practices:

 CP38E-2 Permanent Native Grasses and Legumes, 

which includes the establishment of big sagebrush and 

at least 5 additional species, including 3 native grasses 

and 1 native forb.

 CP38E-4D Permanent Wildlife Habitat, which includes 

the establishment of big sagebrush and at least 4 

native grasses and 3 native forbs

Haying and Grazing

Emergency and non-emergency grazing is allowed. New 

seedings are to be protected from grazing and left idle for the 

first 2–3 years. Grazing is the preferred management activity. 

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

Emergency or non-emergency haying is not authorized. 

Prescribed burning, haying or clipping as a management 

activity is prohibited.

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/mt

Montana Sagebrush-Grassland Restoration SAFE Project Map

JUNE 2023