Cooperative Agriculture

The objectives for the use of cooperative agriculture in the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) are: Production or modification of specific cover types and/or growing methods that meet the life history requirements of species for which we have established objectives (e.g., waterfowl production); and Production of foods for wildlife species for which we have established objectives or maintenance, rehabilitation, or reestablishment of natural habitat.

Applicants must be private individuals or small business entities.

Selected cooperators who conduct cooperative agriculture on NWRS lands under this program, excluding coordination areas (which are areas managed by the Service in coordination with the States).

The program will post Notices of Participation Opportunity at https://www.fws.gov/service/cooperative-agriculture. Individual cooperative agricultural opportunities will be posted as they become available. Individual cooperative agriculture opportunities will also be advertised through other national, regional, and local outreach channels as determined by the Service to be appropriate. The notice for each new opportunity will include a general description of the opportunity, the objective criteria the Service will use to evaluate applicants, the application due date, and application instructions. Individual cooperative agriculture agreements are typically approved for a 3-5 year period. Once that period ends, the Service will determine if those same cooperative agriculture activities should continue. If the Service will continue those same cooperative agriculture activities, a new individual cooperative agriculture opportunity will be posted on the NWRS website and made available for eligible entities to apply. In general and at a minimum, applicants must provide completed FWS Form 3-1383- C to apply for a cooperative agricultural opportunity. The Service will accept applications at the local refuge or complex office listed in the Notice in compliance with the terms and conditions in the Notice.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will score each application based on the specific opportunity requirements and factors that make a potential recipient uniquely qualified. The Service will select the applicant best suited to conduct cooperative agriculture on NWRS lands. The Service will notify all applicants individually within 90 days after the closing of the opportunity notice. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing describing why they were unsuccessful and of their right to appeal any adverse decision in accordance with 50 CFR 25.45.