USDA recently announced the availability of $20 million to improve wildlife habitat and enhance public access for recreational opportunities on privately held and operated farm and forest lands. Funding is available to state governments through the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP), authorized in the 2014 Farm Bill.

Under VPA-HIP, state (and tribal) governments may apply for grants to encourage owners and operators of privately held farm or forest land to voluntarily open that land for public hunting, fishing and other wildlife-dependent recreation and to improve fish and wildlife habitat on that land. State and tribal governments may use VPA-HIP funds to create new public access programs, expand existing public access programs and to improve wildlife habitat on enrolled public access program lands.

USDA's 60-day application period runs from Feb. 23 through April 24, 2015. For more information click here.