Iowa Grand River 

Grassland SAFE

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)

Overview

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

Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Bureau are 

partners in implementing a State Acres for Wildlife 

Enhancement (SAFE) project to enroll agricultural land 

in Ringgold and Decatur counties in south-central Iowa. 

The purpose of the Iowa Grand River Grassland SAFE is 

to increase populations of the Greater prairie-chicken, by 

restoring short native grassland habitats.

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 Iowa Grand River Grassland SAFE project 

is to provide habitat for Greater prairie-chickens. Greater 

prairie-chickens are important to Iowa because they were 

historically found statewide in Iowa prior to settlement, but 

were extirpated from Iowa in 1956 due to habitat loss. A small 

population was reintroduced into south-central Iowa in 1987.

Habitat

Landowners and agricultural producers participating in 

Iowa Grand River Grassland 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 

prairie-chickens. Offers must be a minimum of 5 acres if not 

immediately adjacent to an existing wildlife habitat complex. 

All offers will establish short native grasses and wildflowers 

planted as a mix with a minimum of 4 grass and 6 wildflower 

species, more diversity is encouraged. Native plants will have 

a growth form of less than 20 inches in height. Legumes will 

be 50 percent of the wildflower mix. Shrub plantings and 

winter grain food plots will be allowed, but are not required. 

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

and managed by non-emergency grazing, disking, prescribed 

burning, and high clipping will be allowed. Proper habitat 

establishment, maintenance, and management will maximize 

benefits for Greater prairie-chickens.

MARCH 2023 IOWA

Photo by Iowa Department of Nautral Resources
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE) 2

Project Location

The Iowa Grand River Grassland SAFE project location is the 

western portion of Decatur county and the eastern half of 

Ringgold county.

Eligible CRP Practices

This SAFE project uses the following CRP practices:

 CP38E-CP4D Permanent Wildlife Habitat

 CP38E-CP12 Wildlife Food Plot

Haying and Grazing

Non-emergency grazing is authorized on all offers, but 

only 50% of a contract may be grazed in any calendar year. 

Emergency grazing is not authorized. Emergency and nonemergency haying is not authorized.

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 or nearest DNR office: 

iowadnr.gov/crp.

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

Photo Courtesy Iowa Department of Nautral Resources.
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE)

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

Iowa Grand River Grassland SAFE Project Map

MARCH 2023