Arkansas Conservation Incentive Program (CIP)

AGFC reimburses private landowners for wildlife habitat practices, up to $20,000 per landowner, with applications ranked and approved before work begins. The 2026 round covered upland forest management, firebreaks and prescribed burning, invasive tree removal, and feral hog traps (75% of trap cost for owners or co-ops of at least 100 acres); the 2024 round also paid rice farmers to flood fields for waterfowl. The 2026 hog-trap round is closed and AGFC is taking interest forms for 2027 practices.

• Arkansas private landowners (or lessees for the hog-trap practice) — must fill out an application and, if approved, provide a W-9 matching the application

• Hog traps: own or lease at least 100 contiguous acres (or a same-county co-op totaling 100+ acres), one trap per 500 acres, max three; photo evidence of hogs or hog damage in the last six months; record catches in the AGFC monitoring app and complete an online training

• 2026 habitat practices: minimum of 10 acres of habitat manipulation

Reimbursement after approval; cap $20,000 per landowner; hog-trap reimbursement 75% of cost in two payments (45% on receipts, 30% after first documented trap event).

Published amounts: Maximum of $20,000 per Landowner. Hog traps: reimbursement rate set at 75% of the actual cost for eligible traps and control systems (paid 45% then 30%). 2026 news release: $200 per acre for upland hardwood/pine forest management; $1.50 per linear foot for dozer lines and $50 per acre for prescribed burning; $200 per acre for invasive tree removal.

Applications go through a ranking period after they close and only the highest-ranking projects are funded. For 2027 practices, fill out the CIP interest form; contact a Private Lands Biologist or the CIP Program Coordinator.

Deadline text on the page: Applications for the 2026 Conservation Incentive Program Feral Hog Trap reimbursement are now closed. Landowners interested in applying for future habitat practices with the 2027 Conservation Inventive Program are invited to fill out an interest form.