BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The federal Agriculture Department is accepting an additional 25,000 acres of North Dakota land into programs under the Conservation Reserve Program umbrella targeted at wetlands and other wildlife habitat.

Ten-thousand acres is devoted to State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement, which pays landowners to idle land to create wildlife habitat. Another 10,000 acres is for a program targeted at duck nesting habitat, with the remaining 5,000 acres for a wetland restoration program.

The programs are popular in North Dakota. Officials are seeking another 95,000 acres for the wetland and wildlife initiatives for fiscal 2016, which begins in October.

The Farm Service Agency in partnership with the North Dakota Beekeepers Association and Pheasants Forever also is proposing an allocation of 20,000 acres for a new initiative aimed at creating honeybee habitat.

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