Michigan Native 

Pollinator Plantings SAFE

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)

Overview

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

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, 

Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and U.S Fish 

and Wildlife Service are partners in implementing a State 

Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) project to enroll 

agricultural land in 22 Michigan counties along the Lake 

Michigan shoreline of the lower peninsula. The purpose 

of the Michigan Native Pollinator Plantings SAFE is to 

establish native pollinator habitat beneficial to native bees 

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 Michigan Native Pollinator Plantings 

SAFE project is to provide habitat for rusty-patched 

bumble bee, yellow-banded bumblebee, frosted elfin, and 

blazing star borer. Rusty-patched bumble bee, yellowbanded bumblebee, frosted elfin, and blazing star borer 

and other pollinator species are important to Michigan 

because animal pollinators are responsible for pollinating 

approximately 35% of all crops in Michigan. In Michigan, 

the value of agricultural products in 2019 from plants 

pollinated by bees was approximately $1.2 billion.

Habitat

Landowners and agricultural producers participating in 

Michigan Native Pollinator Plantings 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 

rusty-patched bumble bee, yellow-banded bumblebee, 

frosted elfin, and blazing star borer, and other pollinator 

species. The habitat being established is a variety of native 

grass and wildflower species to serve as a source of nectar 

and pollen along with bare soil patches for ground nesting 

pollinators. After the habitat is established, it will need to 

be maintained and managed by prescribed burning, disking, 

and inter-seeding will be conducted every four years to 

promote wildflower plantings. Proper habitat establishment, 

maintenance, and management will maximize benefits for 

rusty-patched bumble bee, yellow-banded bumblebee, 

frosted elfin, and blazing star borer.

JUNE 2023 MICHIGAN

Photo by Desiree Bischer USDA FSA
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE) 2

Project Location

The Michigan Native Pollinator Plantings SAFE project 

location is available in the following 22 counties: Allegan, 

Antrim, Barry, Benzie, Berrien, Cass, Charlevoix, Emmet, 

Grand Traverse, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Lake, Leelanau, 

Manistee, Mason, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Ottawa, 

Van Buren, and Wexford.

Eligible CRP Practices

This SAFE project uses the following CRP practices:

 CP38E-42, SAFE Pollinator Habitat

Haying and Grazing

Enrollments will not be eligible for haying and grazing 

provisions, including emergency provisions.

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

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/mi

Michigan Native Pollinator Plantings SAFE Project Map

JUNE 2023