01-24-2004, 10:53 PM
Game and Fish PLI Staff to Host Open Houses
North Dakota Game and Fish Department biologists will introduce a new private lands program - called the Working Lands Programs - at a series of open house meetings for landowners in early February. Landowners are invited to attend and learn more about all the Game and Fish private lands programs and how they might fit into an agricultural operation, according to John W. Schulz, private land section leader.
Working lands is designed to evaluate wildlife value of land that is actively farmed or ranched. Land retirement, grass planting and pasture idling is not a requirement. "Landowners receive an annual payment that rewards past improvements in creating or improving wildlife habitat," Schulz said. "In addition, the program will also reward landowners for new wildlife habitat added to their current operation."
As with all Game and Fish private land contracts, walking public hunting access is part of a working lands agreement.
Additional Private Lands Initiative programs available to landowners include CRP cost-share, habitat plots, CoverLocks for Conservation, food plots, private forest conservation, and wetland reserve incentive.
All open houses are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time. Game and fish personnel will be available during those hours to explain program objectives and producer benefits.
Open houses are set for:
* Tuesday, Feb. 3
Dickinson - North Dakota Game and Fish District Office
Center - Center Civic Center
Forman - Forman City Hall
* Wednesday, Feb. 4
Mott - Mott National Guard Armory
Beulah - Beulah Civic Center
LaMoure - LaMoure Civic Center
* Thursday, Feb. 5
Hettinger - Hettinger Research and Extension Center
Carson - Carson Community Center
Bismarck - North Dakota Game and Fish Main Offi
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North Dakota Game and Fish Department biologists will introduce a new private lands program - called the Working Lands Programs - at a series of open house meetings for landowners in early February. Landowners are invited to attend and learn more about all the Game and Fish private lands programs and how they might fit into an agricultural operation, according to John W. Schulz, private land section leader.
Working lands is designed to evaluate wildlife value of land that is actively farmed or ranched. Land retirement, grass planting and pasture idling is not a requirement. "Landowners receive an annual payment that rewards past improvements in creating or improving wildlife habitat," Schulz said. "In addition, the program will also reward landowners for new wildlife habitat added to their current operation."
As with all Game and Fish private land contracts, walking public hunting access is part of a working lands agreement.
Additional Private Lands Initiative programs available to landowners include CRP cost-share, habitat plots, CoverLocks for Conservation, food plots, private forest conservation, and wetland reserve incentive.
All open houses are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time. Game and fish personnel will be available during those hours to explain program objectives and producer benefits.
Open houses are set for:
* Tuesday, Feb. 3
Dickinson - North Dakota Game and Fish District Office
Center - Center Civic Center
Forman - Forman City Hall
* Wednesday, Feb. 4
Mott - Mott National Guard Armory
Beulah - Beulah Civic Center
LaMoure - LaMoure Civic Center
* Thursday, Feb. 5
Hettinger - Hettinger Research and Extension Center
Carson - Carson Community Center
Bismarck - North Dakota Game and Fish Main Offi
[signature]