Kansas Habitat for 

Upland Game Birds SAFE

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)

Overview

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

Department of Wildlife and Parks are partners in 

implementing a State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement 

(SAFE) project to enroll agricultural land in all counties 

in Kansas. The purpose of the Kansas Habitat for Upland 

Game Birds SAFE is to improve populations of bobwhite 

quail, ring-neck pheasants, and other grassland-associated 

wildlife by creating nesting/brood-rearing habitat on 

portions of crop fields in areas where crop production is 

the predominate land use.

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 Kansas Habitat for Upland Game Birds 

SAFE project is to provide habitat for northern bobwhite 

quail and ring-necked pheasant. Northern bobwhite quail 

and ring-necked pheasant are important to Kansas because 

they are considered species of special concern, greatest 

conservation need, and significant economic importance for 

rural communities.

Habitat

Landowners and agricultural producers participating in 

Kansas Habitat for Upland Game Birds 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 northern bobwhite quail and ring-necked 

pheasant. The habitat being established is edge-type 

habitat located on less productive areas adjacent to or 

within cropped fields planted to native grass and forb 

species best suited for wildlife in the area. After the 

habitat is established, it will need to be maintained and 

managed by approved site-specific management activities 

such as burning, disking, and interseeding conducted on a 

rotational basis at least once in each 10-year segment of 

the contract. Proper habitat establishment, maintenance, 

and management will maximize benefits for northern 

bobwhite quail and ring-necked pheasant.

MAY 2023 KANSAS
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE) 2

Project Location

The Kansas Habitat for Upland Game Birds SAFE project 

location includes all counties in Kansas.

Eligible CRP Practices

This SAFE project uses the following CRP practices:

 CP38E-2, Establishment of Permanent Native Grasses 

 CP38E-4D, SAFE Permanent Wildlife Habitat

 CP38E-25, Rare and Declining Habitat 

Haying and Grazing

Emergency haying and grazing activities are prohibited for 

this project. All non-emergency haying and grazing activities 

may occur according to standard CRP policies.

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.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. fsa.usda.gov/ks
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE)

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

Kansas Habitat for Upland Game Birds SAFE Project Map

MAY 2023