Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) CRP Establishment Examples CRP Timeline Example Native Drills For Rent CRP Contractors

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) in McLean County

SAFE provides an opportunity to develop grassroots cooperative conservation projects to address high priority wildlife needs through habitat restoration. The practices must be used to address wildlife habitat that can be enhanced through the restoration of eligible cropland through CRP. Enrollment is available under continuous and general signup criteria, depending on the practice and cover being established.

McLean County has two SAFE areas that allow landowners and producers to qualify for a range of wildlife practices that can be enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program SAFE CP38. The Cheneys Grove Township, a Southern portion of Anchor township, Eastern edge of Arrowsmith township, and a southern portion of Funks Grove fall within the SAFE area.

Eligible SAFE Conservation Practices

31,000

McLean County Acres Potentially Eligible for Enrollment

SAFE Areas – Designated Areas in Illinois for Grassland Bird Management (CP 38A Buffers)

Filter Strips (CP 21)

  • Establish Native Grasses along Streams and Rivers to Filter Water and Reduce Erosion along Waterways

Riparian Buffers (CP 22)

  • Establish a Mixture of Trees, Shrubs, and Native Grasses along Streams and Rivers to Filter Water and Reduce Erosion along Waterways

Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds – Field Borders (CP 33)

  • Establish Native Grasses and Forbs that Average 30-120 ft. Around the Edges of Ag Fields With a Minimum Acreage Requirement of 5 Acres
  • The practice must wrap around the entire farm, field entrances remain open for equipment crossing

Prairie Strips (CP 43)

  • 30-120′ native prairie strips, ideal for windmill lanes, tree line edges, and conjoining a terrace.
  • Reduce Erosion, improve nutrient management, improve wildlife habitat

Other potential practices include:

  • Grassed Waterways CP8A, Contour Grass Strips CP15A,CP15B

SAFE Areas – Designated Areas in Illinois for Grassland Bird Management (CP 38B Wetlands)

Shallow Water Areas For Wildlife (CP 9)

  • Establish Native Grasses and Shallow Wetlands on Low Areas in Crop Fields that Frequently Flood Out

Wetland Restoration (CP 23)

  • Restore Native Grasses and Water to areas that were Historically Wetland Habitat

Other potential practices include:

  • CP23A Wetland Restoration, Non Floodplain, CP25 Rare and Declining Habitat
  • CP27 Farmable Wetland Pilot Wetland, CP28 Farmable wetland pilot wetland buffer, and CP37 Duck Nesting Habitat

SAFE Areas – Designated Areas in Illinois for Grassland Bird Management (CP 38C Trees)

Hardwood Tree Planting (CP 3A)

  • Hardwood Tree Plantings.

Other potential practices include:

  • CP3 Tree Plantings, CP16A Shelterbelt Establishment, CP17A Living Snow Fences,
  • CP25 Rare and Declining Habitat, CP31 Bottomland Timber Establishment of Wetlands

SAFE Areas – Designated Areas in Illinois for Grassland Bird Management (CP 38CE Grass)

Wildlife Habitat (CP-4D)

  • Native grass plantings that may include tree & shrub plantings, wildlife food plots, and cool season plantings
  • No acreage size requirements

Pollinator Habitat (CP 42)

  • Native Grassland Mixes Made Up of no More than 25% Grass Seed (at Least 75% Wildflower Seed)
  • 0.5 Acre Minimum Size, no Maximum. Effective for Filling in Oddly Shaped Acres.

Other potential practices include:

  • CP1 Introduced Grasses and Legumes, CP2 Native Grasses, CP12 Wildlife Food Plot
  • CP18B Reduce Salinity, CP18C Prevent Salt Tolerant Vegetative Cover, CP24 Cross Wind Trap Strips, and CP25 Rare and Declining Habitat

Land and Landowner Eligibility

Cropping History

  • Land with a current cropping history with the Farm Service Agency from 2012-2017
  • Crop must have been reported 4 of the 6 years within this range
  • Landowners must meet the Adjusted Gross Income “AGI” requirement
  • Land must fall within the SAFE area
  • Contracts begin October 1st of a program year

This page has been provided as a summary and resource for McLean County Landowners and Producers. The Conservation Reserve Program is a program administered by the Farm Service Agency. Any and all information found on the Farm Service Agency website or from the McLean County Conservation Reserve Program CRP clerk is considered the most accurate information and the most accurate program policy.