New York Grassland Bird Habitat 

Conservation and Management SAFE

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)

Overview

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

Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) are 

partners in implementing a State Acres for Wildlife 

Enhancement (SAFE) project to enroll agricultural land in 

thirty-six counties across New York. The purpose of the New 

York Grassland Habitat SAFE is to benefit grassland birds by 

conserving and managing sufficient grassland habitat in key 

areas of the state that will contribute towards the overall 

goal of preventing the extirpation of the target species in 

New York.

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 New York Grassland Habitat SAFE project 

is to provide habitat for bobolink, Eastern meadowlark, 

savannah sparrow, Northern harrier, and short-eared 

owl. These wildlife species are important to New York 

because grassland habitat expansion or creation can foster 

an increase in their productivity and overall populations 

and has the potential to encourage populations of more 

rare species to colonize enrolled fields. Secondarily, this 

habitat can serve as overwintering habitat for other species 

such as northern harriers and the state endangered short 

eared owl. These management opportunities can maintain 

existing populations, foster their expansion and increased 

productivity, and decrease the likelihood of extirpation on 

the landscape.

Habitat

Landowners and agricultural producers participating in 

New York Grassland 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 bobolink, Eastern 

meadowlark, savannah sparrow, Northern harrier, and shorteared owl. The habitat being established is post-agricultural 

introduced grass fields (CP-1) or native permanent grass 

fields (CP-2). After the habitat is established, it will need 

to be maintained and managed by mowing established 

grasses and forbs on a specific rotation after August 15th to 

account for the primary nesting season, and spot mowing 

as necessary to keep invasives under control which will 

provide nesting, brood-rearing, foraging, and overwintering 

habitat for the target species. Proper habitat establishment, 

maintenance, and management will maximize benefits for 

bobolink, Eastern meadowlark, savannah sparrow, Northern 

harrier, and short-eared owl.

SEPTEMBER 2023 NEW YORK
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE) 2

Project Location

The New York Grassland Habitat SAFE project location is 

within the Western New York, Southern Tier, Finger Lakes 

Region, Mohawk River Valley, St. Lawrence River Valley, 

Washington County Grasslands, and Shawangunk Grasslands 

regions which completely or partially encompass Allegany, 

Cayuga, Chemung, Clinton, Cortland, Erie, Essex, Franklin, 

Fulton, Genesee, Herkimer, Jefferson, Livingston, Madison, 

Monroe, Montgomery, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, 

Orleans, Otsego, Saratoga, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, St. 

Lawrence, Steuben, Suffolk, Tompkins, Ulster, Washington, 

Warren, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates counties.

Eligible CRP Practices

This SAFE project uses the following CRP practices:

 CP38E-CP-1: Establishment fo Permanent Introduced 

Grasses and Legumes.

 CP38E-CP-2: Establishment fo Permanent Native 

Grasses

Haying and Grazing

After August 15th, the removal of vegetation to reduce 

thatch accumulation is periodically required as a 

management activity in individual Site Conservation Plans. 

The sale of baled hay is allowed according to CRP policy, 

provided the hay was harvested after August 15 and in 

compliance with the SAFE conservation plan. Low intensity 

grazing, no more than 1.5 Animal Equivalency Units per acre 

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

is allowed during the nesting season. Livestock must not be 

moved around the fields with dogs, loud sounds, or any other 

technique that would disturb nesting grassland birds. Highintensity rotational grazing is not allowed during the nesting 

season but can occur after the nesting season provided that 

the cover is not destroyed. All haying and grazing for required 

management will follow CRP non-emergency haying and 

grazing policy including payment reductions when required.

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/ny

New York Grassland Bird Habitat Conservation and 

Management SAFE Project Map

JULY 2023