In order to become more productive, today’s producers have learned how to farm every square inch of land they can.

Hence, the term, farming fence row to fence row.

However, according to Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks District Wildlife Biologist Justin Harbit from Chanute, Kan., it is possible they are losing as much as they are gaining.

That loss, he says, is wildlife.

“Before we farmed and/or pastured everything, we had fallow fields that made great wildlife habitat,” he explains. “Over the years more land is farmed and trees, shrubs and cedars have not been controlled.”

All of which, he says, has taken away from the natural habitat for a variety of wildlife species, causing numbers to decline.

However, Harbit admits, farmers have to make money so he doesn’t fault them for the decline in the population.

“If we look at quail alone, their population in southeast Kansas has decreased significantly over the past 15 years,” he says.

According to him, however, the population had been steadily rebuilding.

“That was until the flood,” he says. “In the last four years we have seen major flooding and some horrible weather events which have had a major impact on the quail population.

That is where the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks in conjunction with the Natural Resource Conservation Service can help out.

One of the programs they offer to help increase the wildlife population is called the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program.

“The program is actually a NRCS program—KDWP has just agreed to help them with the delivery of it,” Harbit explains.

The goal of the program, according to him, is to increase all types of wildlife, including waterfowl, deer, turkey, quail and pheasant, on private lands.

By definition, WHIP is the only program designed with wildlife as a primary goal.

The program is designed so landowners and wildlife biologists can work together in making a management plan which includes habitat improvement projects.

Allen Reed, KDWP wildlife biologist technician, gave several examples of projects, which include:

•Planting native grass, shrubs or food plots

•Converting cool season grasses to native

•Renovating wetlands and hedgerows and brush control.

•Cross fencing

•Exclusion fencing

•Pest management

Since each individual tract of land varies, a wildlife biologist will meet with the landowner and determine which practice is best suited for their situation.

The idea behind WHIP is to help increase the wildlife population while at the same time teaching landowners how to manage for wildlife.

“It is our job to meet with landowners and find out what their long-term goals are,” Harbit says. “Whether it is cattle production, row crop production or recreational, we will walk it with the landowner and see how we can take what they have and turn it into what they need to increase wildlife.”

Even though WHIP is aimed at wildlife habitat, many of the management practices that go along with it can help producers in other ways.

“The management plan is designed with the landowner and his land in mind,” Harbit explains. “Even though the plan focuses on species management there are other advantages, including environmental concerns, erosion, etc.”

According to Reed and Harbit, the program is a win-win deal for both the wildlife and the producers.

“This is a cost-share program which means you will get a one-time reimbursement for the practices you implement on your land,” Harbit explains.

That reimbursement, according to him, is roughly 75 percent of what the out-of-pocket expense is to the producer.

Since its inception, WHIP has been hugely popular in southeast Kansas, according to Harbit.

“The two top practices in this area have been brush management and fescue conversion,” he says.

Does WHIP sound too good to be true? It isn’t.

“Producers who look into this always want to know what strings or restrictions are attached,” Harbit says. “There really aren’t that many. It is a contract agreed upon by the landowner and he has to keep the practices in place for the life of the contract.”

Harbit and Reed feel one of the biggest oversights is how important farming is to wildlife.

“Our management goal is the same as theirs—long-term management of the property,” Harbit says. “General farming and ranching practices are a necessity for this program to work. Wildlife not only need habitat but also food and cover which farming provides them.”

For more information on WHIP, landowners can contact their local NRCS or KDWP.

Harbit reminds producers to do so immediately if they are interested since the deadline to sign up is January 15.

“That doesn’t mean you have to have the management practices in place by then,” he explains. “By the 15th we need a signed application and then we can put a management plan together with the landowner.”

Harbit feels that taking part in this program will not only help the landowner but those who will be able to enjoy that land for years to come.

“Wildlife is important and hunting is something families have done for years. If we work to re-establish and maintain wildlife we can continue to enjoy the benefits for years to come,” he concludes.