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HARTINGTON — Producers will be paid for reduc- ing their nitrogen application by the lesser of 40lbs or by 15%. You can find the application and guidance document online.
For this program, the state is divided up into three priority areas (A, B, and C). Priority area A is areas in the state with an NRD determined phase II or higher or are wellhead protection areas. This area has an incentive payment of $15 per acre. Priority B areas are areas not in Priority A, but have their irrigated acres certified. Priority B areas have an incentive payment of $12 per acre. The last priority area is C, which is the rest of the state and has an incentive payment of $10 per acre. The program limits eligible crops to corn, sugar beets, potatoes, and wheat.
LCNRD’s Priority A Areas are community wellhead protection areas and the townships that are part of the Bazile Groundwater Management Area, including all of Creighton Township and Cleveland Township except sections 25-27 and 34-36, and sections 6, 7, 18, and 19 of Columbia Township. The Bow Creek Watershed is a Priority B Area, and the remaining acres in the district are Priority C-designated areas. To demonstrate the reduction in baseline nitrogen applications, each priority area has established specific data requirements. Producers should work with LCNRD or their local NRD on data require ments.
The incentives are designed to be flexible, allowing them to be combined with other oers from the Natural Resources Conservation Service or other entities. Pro-
ducers will need to confirm with those other programs. Producers are also given flexibility to determine how they will reduce their nitrogen application but will work with their local NRD on the implementation.
LCNRD and the other NRDs will rank and score applications that best suit local concerns and the availability of funding. Applications will be submitted to the local NRD either by email or in person and are due before December 15th, 2025. Contact LCNRD for more information on the application process. Producers have until January 15, 2027, to document and show the reduction in their nitro gen application to be eligible for payments.
For general questions about the program, please con tact your local NRD or Alexa Davis at the Department of Water, Energy, and Environment.
Alexa Davis: (402)471-3948 or alexa.davis@ nebraska.gov
LCNRD: (402)-2546758 or [email protected] or 608 N. Robinson Ave., Hartington Web link for documents: https://dnr.ne- braska.gov/lb-1368-nitro gen-reduction-incentiveprogram.
