Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program

Last Modified: 06/12/2008

WHIP sign-up is continuous.  Applications will be ranked and selected for funding monthly until all funds are expended.

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.

Maryland WHIP Program Information

DISCLAIMER:  The information currently available on this and linked sites may not be the final version of the ranking, application, or conservation practice documents.   Please check with your local NRCS office or check back on this site to ensure that the documents that you use to make a final decision are not a draft version of the ranking, application, and conservation practice worksheets.

News Release

These documents require Adobe Acrobat.

WHIP Field Handbook (PDF; 141 KB) - contains all WHIP information and forms for FY08.  Individual components, available for download, are listed below.
Program Summary and Overview (PDF; 40 KB)
WHIP Eligibility (PDF; 16 KB)
WHIP 2008 Payment Schedule (PDF; 14 KB)
Fish Passage (396), Stream Habitat Improvement & Management (395), & Streambank Protection (580) for FY08 Programs (PDF; 39KB)

Maryland WHIP Application Form and Worksheets

These documents require Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Excel.

WHIP Application with Appendix (Form CCC-1200) (PDF; 28 KB)
Maryland WHIP Application Workbook (PDF; 17 KB)
Maryland WHIP Application Workbook (XLS; 189 KB)
Direct Deposit Form (PDF; 276 KB)

WHIP Related Forms

These documents require Adobe Acrobat.

WHIP Control of Land Certification (PDF; 16 KB)
MD-CPA-052, Maryland Environmental Evaluation Checklist (PDF; 147 KB)
MD-CPA-052, Instructions (PDF; 94 KB)
Participant Checklist for NRCS Financial Assistance Contracts (PDF; 26 KB)
Claim Summary Sheet (XLS; 56 KB)

Technical References

Maryland Field Office Technical Guide (eFOTG)

National Program Information

National WHIP program information

This document requires Adobe Acrobat.

WHIP Program Manual (PDF; 244 KB)

Contact

Tiffany Laws
Farm Bill Program Specialist (CSP, WHIP, Energy and Easements)
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