Landowners in 35 southern Iowa counties, including Washington, Keokuk, Louisa, Henry, and Jefferson, are encouraged to implement quail habitat-improving practices. To do this, the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering $1.2 million in conservation practice funding through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

These practices include conservation cover, brush management, upland wildlife habitat management, early successional habitat management, and tree and shrub establishment. NRCS is also encouraging these landowners to seed down native warm-season grasses to benefit the northern bobwhite quail and other wildlife. Land should be marginal cropland or land adjacent to trees, brush, and pasture. 

Quail populations have decreased by 80 percent in the last 60 years, due in part to their habitat shrinking by 30 million acres nationwide. The first cutoff to apply for Iowa NRCS programs for fiscal year 2024 is November 3. Landowners can apply at their local NRCS field office. To view an office near you, click here.