Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program

Last Modified: 05/13/2008

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private land. Through WHIP USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service provides both technical assistance and cost-share assistance to establish and improve fish and wildlife habitat. WHIP agreements between NRCS and the participant generally last from 5 to 10 years from the date the agreement is signed.

WHIP sign-up closes February 24, 2006

Maryland WHIP Program Information

These documents require Adobe Acrobat.

Sign-up Announcement
WHIP Fact Sheet (PDF; 44 KB)
Frequently Asked Questions about WHIP (PDF; 44 KB)
FY2006 Program Summary (PDF; 56 KB)
WHIP Conservation Practices and Planning Criteria (PDF; 216 KB)
WHIP Statewide Cost List (PDF; 66 KB)

Maryland WHIP Application Form and Worksheets

These documents require Adobe Acrobat.

WHIP Application (Form CCC-1200, Items 1 - 8b) (PDF; 68 KB)
Maryland WHIP Application Evaluation Worksheet (PDF; 74 KB)
Maryland WHIP Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Worksheets (PDF; 114 KB)
Maryland WHIP Ranking Worksheet (General Enrollment) (PDF; 15 KB)
Maryland WHIP Ranking Worksheet (Outdoor Classroom Small Sites) (PDF; 14 KB)

With each application, attach an aerial photo (or sketch) and a soils map showing the location of the proposed WHIP practice(s).

WHIP Agreement Forms and Related Documents

These documents require Adobe Acrobat.

WHIP Agreement (Form CCC-1200, Items 9a - 11) (PDF; 135 KB)
WHIP Agreement, Appendix (Form CCC-1200-WHIP) (PDF; 22 KB)
WHIP Agreement, Modifications (Form CCC-1200, Modifications page) (PDF; 69 KB)
MD-CPA-052, Maryland Environmental Evaluation Checklist (PDF; 147 KB)
MD-CPA-052, Instructions (PDF; 94 KB)

WHIP Payment Forms and Related Documents

These forms require Adobe Acrobat reader

Practice Approval and Payment Application (Form NRCS-1245) (PDF; 75 KB)
WHIP Notice of Assignment (PDF; 44 KB)
Direct Deposit Enrollment Form (PDF; 53 KB)

Technical References

Maryland Field Office Technical Guide (eFOTG)

National Program Information

National WHIP program information

WHIP Informational Material by State - National

Contact

Tiffany Laws
Farm Bill Specialist
Phone: 443.482.2960
Email: tiffany.laws@md.usda.gov

Mark Rose
Assistant State Conservationist for Programs
Phone: 443.482.2910
Email: mark.rose@md.usda.gov