F24AS00298 Cooperative Agriculture
Last verified by NonDilute: 2026-04-29. Official notice and agency instructions control.
If you farm or manage land near a National Wildlife Refuge and can integrate habitat conservation into your operations, negotiate a cooperative agreement that gives you land use and resources in exchange for conservation labor.
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What this is
The Fish and Wildlife Service offers Cooperative Agriculture Agreements (CAAs) that formalize partnerships between the NWRS and agricultural operators to achieve conservation goals like waterfowl production, wildlife food provision, or habitat restoration. Participants may receive land-use rights, crop yields, water, equipment, or refuge staff support in exchange for contributing labor, equipment, materials, habitat work, or revenue payments. This is a non-financial assistance program with no federal funding awarded, making it ideal for agricultural operators already working on or near refuge lands who can integrate conservation objectives into their operations.
Who can apply
Small businesses and individuals are eligible. Applicants must be willing to conduct agricultural practices on National Wildlife Refuge System lands and engage in substantial partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Service to meet documented conservation and wildlife management objectives. No geographic restriction is stated, but eligibility is limited to lands within the NWRS.
Eligible applicant types
- Small businesses
- Individuals
Full description — from the agency
The objectives for the use of cooperative agriculture in the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) are: production or modification of specific cover types or growing methods that meet the life history requirements of species for which we have established objectives (e.g., waterfowl production); production of foods for wildlife species for which we have established objectives; and/or maintenance, rehabilitation, or reestablishment of natural habitat. Cooperative agriculture is when a person or entity conducts agricultural practices on NWRS lands in support of the Service’s conservation and resource management objectives and there is substantial involvement between the Service and that person or entity. The NWRS uses cooperative agreements, known as Cooperative Agriculture Agreements (CAAs), as the legal instruments to formalize the agreement between the Service and the program participant. The cost-sharing of a person or entity in cooperative agricultural on NWRS lands can vary depending on the needs and objectives of the particular NWRS land. For example, the Service may provide the cooperator with the right to perform agricultural practices on NWRS land and a percentage of any resulting crop yield, as well as the ability to use Service water, equipment, and/or refuge staff. In exchange, the cooperator may provide the Service with labor, equipment, and materials; a percentage of any resulting crop yield; and/or maintenance, rehabilitation, or reestablishment of specific habitat conditions on NWRS lands. In addition to or instead of cost-sharing, the Service may accept bids for payment for the person or entity’s agriculture use (e.g. haying or grazing) on NWRS lands in compliance with the Refuge Revenue Sharing Act. This is a nonfinancial assistance program. No Federal funds are obligated or awarded to program participants. Because a CAA is not a financial assistance award, it is not subject to the regulations at 2 CFR 200 or policy in parts 515 and 516 of the Fish and Wildlife Service Manual.
Topics: cooperative agriculture agreements · wildlife refuge land management · habitat restoration · agricultural partnerships · waterfowl production · cost-sharing arrangements
Public-source funding discovery only. This summary is generated from public agency data and may be incomplete or stale. NonDilute is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency. Official notices and agency instructions control. NonDilute does not determine eligibility, provide grant-writing advice, or guarantee funding.