Pollinator Safety Corners program Archives

When corn is high, four-way intersections in rural counties can become dangerous. Tall crops often obstruct the line-of-sight needed at these intersections. The Papio NRD, along with Pheasants Forever, The Nebraska Environmental Trust, and Nebraska Game & Parks offer a cost-share program to improve safety while also providing a benefit to the ecosystem.

A Pollinator Safety Corner in Washington County on year two of its contract.
Photo courtesy of Armando Zarco.

The Pollinator Safety Corners Program allows landowners to take one to three acres at a four-way rural intersection out of crop production and seeded into a mix of short, native grasses or pollinator habitat. Landowners receive 75% cost-share on seed mix. In addition, the program provides an annual payment of $250/acre for 5 years. Landowners within the 319 Papillion Creek Watershed receive $350/acre annually. Some participants even choose to install bee boxes on their safety corners.

With your participation, we can make these intersections safer for our communities and beneficial for pollinators. Contact Kalani Fortina in the Blair office at (402) 426-4782 ext. 101 or Kalani.Fortina@usda.gov for more information.

Rural intersections can be dangerous when tall crops obstruct the view of approaching traffic. The Papio NRD is proud to be a partner in the Pollinator Safety Corners program that offers landowners incentives to plant new habitat at rural intersections, such as a diverse mix of short grasses and wildflowers, to help provide an adequate sight distance at intersections.

Through the 319 Grant Program, a new incentives program for farmstead improvements and agricultural enhancements, landowners within the Papillion Creek Watershed who participate in the Pollinator Safety Corners program receive an annual $350 per acre for each year of the 5-year contract.

Kyle Madsen, watershed coordinator for the Papio NRD says he sees the Pollinators Safety Corners program to be a win-win for farmers and the community by increasing safety through conservation efforts.

Anyone interested in learning more about the program can contact Madsen at kmadsen@papionrd.org or 402-350-3695.

Please see flyers below for program details and guidelines.

Safety Corners Program Guidelines

Papio-NRD-Corners-Flyer

Tag: Pollinator Safety Corners program

Increasing Safety of Rural Intersections Through Conservation Efforts