Pheasants forever pays farmers to plant wildlife habitat

Friday, October 6, 2023

Pheasants Forever has launched a new program to help farmers convert field edges into wildlife habitat. The Field Border Incentive Program pays farmers to plant perennial grass and wildflowers along the edges of their crop fields.

The program is funded by a $500,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Farms in the watersheds of nine creeks in eastern Pennsylvania are eligible for the program.

Field borders can range in width from 50 to 150 feet, and farmers enroll for a 10-year commitment. The payments are made in one lump sum and range from $1,200 per acre for a border 50 to 89 feet wide, to $2,000 per acre for a border 120 to 150 feet wide.

Pheasants Forever says that field borders are beneficial for both farmers and wildlife. They can help to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, and provide habitat for a variety of species, including pheasants, rabbits, turkeys, and ground-nesting birds.

Farmers can also hay or graze field borders outside of the nesting season.

Enrollment for the Field Border Incentive Program is open now. Field borders must be installed by June 30, 2025.

For more information or to enroll, contact:

• Lebanon and Dauphin counties: Elli Liput, 717-403-6536, eliput@pheasantsforever.org

• Schuylkill and Berks counties: Jenna Emore,717-673-4649, jemore@pheasantsforever.org

Northumberland, Columbia, and Montour counties: Andrea Hanson, 615-473-2137, ahanson@pheasantsforever.org