GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska - Producers looking to improve water quality and conserve water on their farm may apply for the following irrigation management funding opportunities until Nov. 15, 2024. Funding is available for the Ogallala Aquifer & Platte River RCPP and the Nebraska Soil Carbon Project through the USDA-NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). RCPPs are a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land. 

Ogallala Aquifer & Platte River RCPP
The Ogallala Aquifer & Platte River RCPP offers funding to add efficient irrigation techniques and implement conservation practices. Producers also have the option to reduce water consumption by converting irrigated land to non-irrigated on a permanent or temporary basis.  Phases II and III areas of Central Platte NRD’s Groundwater Quality Management Program are a focus of the program since nitrate levels in these areas are above the recommended 10 parts per million drinking water standard.  Producers may contact their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office. Additional details are available at www.cpnrd.org.

NRCS Field Offices in CPNRD (Ext. 3)

• Central City: (308) 946-3035   
• Grand Island: (308) 382-0814   
• Kearney: (308) 237-3118
• Lexington: (308) 324-6314   
• Osceola: (402) 747-2461

Nebraska Soil Carbon Project
Another program available to producers in the Central Platte and Upper Big Blue NRDs is the Nebraska Soil Carbon Project. This public-private partnership includes the NRDs, NRCS, Cargill, McDonald's, Target, and The Nature Conservancy, working together to provide financial incentives for cover crops, no-till farming, and diverse crop rotations. Producers can earn $20 per acre per year, with options to layer multiple practices in the same field. Financial and technical assistance is available for the final round of funding for this program. For more information on the Soil Carbon Project RCPP, contact the Central Platte or Upper Big Blue NRD offices or visit www.cpnrd.org or www. upperbigblue.org to enroll by Nov. 15, 2024.

CONTACT
Central Platte NRD     Courtney Widup: widup [at] cpnrd.org  |  (308) 216-1183
Upper Big Blue NRD   Jerod Fling:  jfling [at] upperbigblue.org  |  (402) 366-5272