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NRD News and Events

Deadline approaching for Natural Resource Conservation Funds

Saturday, October 7, 2023

LINCOLN — Farmers and ranchers interested in preventing erosion, improving soil health, conserving water and wildlife or making other natural resource conservation improvements to their property may apply for funding available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture N...

Clean Diesel Rebate Applications accepted through Dec. 7, 2023

Wednesday, October 4, 2023 to Friday, December 8, 2023

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy’s 2023 Clean Diesel Rebate Program is now accepting applications for agricultural irrigation pump diesel engine replacements. Applications must be submitted to NDEE by Dec. 7, 2023, to be considered.The Cl...

NRD PROVIDES TOOL FOR ACCURATE WATER USE ON CROPS

Monday, July 17, 2023

With irrigation season in full swing, it’s important having all the tools and information available to help determine how much water is needed to keep crops going and conserve water as area producers roll into the new 2023-2027 allocation period.The Upper Republican NRD ha...

Automated flowmeters assist irrigators

Thursday, June 22, 2023

The tools help NRDs and producers better track irrigation efficiency and water utilization.Water is on the top of every producer’s mind this year, especially among irrigators.One way that Nebraska works to better conserve water is through the work of Natural Resources Dist...

Nebraska lawmakers endorse $575 million Perkins County canal project

Thursday, May 4, 2023

Martha StoddardMay 4, 2023LINCOLN — Plans to build a $574.5 million canal-and-reservoir system to draw water from the South Platte River got a vote of approval from Nebraska lawmakers Thursday.Senators rejected a proposal to scale back the canal project, with 32 senators v...

NDEE Extends Private Well Reverse Osmosis Rebate Program

Thursday, April 13, 2023

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) has extended the Private Well Reverse Osmosis Rebate Program.The initial application period opened January 1, 2023 and closed March 31, 2023. Upon reaching the initial close date of March 31, 2023, NDEE received 92 app...

NEW FIVE-YEAR NRD RULES GO INTO EFFECT NEXT MONTH

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

JAN SCHULTZ, THE IMPERIAL REPUBLICANBoard members of the Upper Republican NRD approved the district’s water rules for the next five years.The action came at Tuesday’s regular board meeting on an 11-0 vote.The adopted rules will be in effect in the upcoming irrigation sea...

DNR: Perkins County Canal found feasible, but route study hardly begun

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Todd von KampenNorth Platte Telegraph – March 28, 2023Keith County residents shouldn’t read too much from a map in a state-ordered feasibility study showing a possible Perkins County Canal route in Nebraska, according to three state and local natural resources officials.

Proposed NRD Rules Changes Go To Hearing

Monday, February 13, 2023

Proposed changes to water-use regulations including the 2023-2027 allocation will have a public hearing on March 14 before a final vote by the Upper Republican NRD Board of Directors.The proposal from the board that will have a public hearing at 9 a.m. on the 14th includes a...

Funds Available to Help Restore and Protect Rangeland

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Nebraska producers have funding available to help address the spread of invasive woody vegetation on rangeland. Landowners should apply at their local NRCS field office by Feb. 17, 2023, for funding to adopt management practices that help treat the spread of Eastern redcedar...

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Regional/National Water News

Ricketts says Colorado is not delivering enough water on the South Platte

09/21/2022

By Fred Knapp, Reporter/Producer Nebraska Public Media Sept. 21, 2022 Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said Colorado is not delivering all the water it is supposed to from the South Platte River. Ricketts made his remarks in a presentation at the public library in Ogallala on...Read more

Topsoil protection should be stressed in the next farm bill, U.S. House Ag panel told

09/17/2022

BY: ARIANA FIGUEROA - SEPTEMBER 17, 2022 WASHINGTON — Farmers and academics at a hearing this week stressed the need for members of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee to support regenerative agriculture farming practices in the upcoming farm bill in order to protect...Read more

U.S. agricultural groups spell out their priorities in the next farm bill

08/02/2022

BY: ALLISON WINTER - AUGUST 2, 2022 7:31 PM Major U.S. agricultural production groups are pulling together their requests for the next farm bill — the massive legislation that Congress rewrites every five years to set farm and food policy — with crop insurance and disaster...Read more

Drought drops Platte River to one of its lowest levels in decade in Nebraska

07/30/2022

By: Nancy Gaarder Stunning images of a virtually dry Platte River near Columbus are yet another reminder of the grip that drought has had on the region. That stretch of river dropped this week to one of its lowest levels in about a decade, said Jeremy Gehle, water...Read more

The Perfect Storm: Now’s the Time to Safeguard Your Soil

05/16/2022

By JENNA HOFFMAN May 16, 2022 A dust storm rippled through the Midwest late last week, followed by rain in some parts and continued heat in others. The Great Plains is no stranger to this weather phenomenon, but producers up north are less familiar with it. Images of the...Read more

KGS report indicates 2021 drained Kansas groundwater levels

03/23/2022

By Sarah Motter LAWRENCE, Kan. (WIBW) - A new report from the Kansas Geological Survey , based at KU, found that groundwater levels have dropped by over a foot in western and central Kansas. The University of Kansas says preliminary data gathered by the Kansas Geological...Read more

Grasslands need protection now

03/13/2022

North America's grasslands are one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. By Jacob Hanson The grade school textbooks in my rural, northern Minnesota classroom raised an issue that led to lunchroom table talk over a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Rainforests were...Read more

Farmers restore native grasslands as groundwater disappears

09/09/2021

To avoid Dust Bowl conditions, more farmers are restoring native grasslands in areas where the nation’s largest aquifer is drying up and rainfall is often scarce. By TAMMY WEBBER Associated Press MULESHOE, Texas (AP) — For decades, the Texas Panhandle was green with cotton...Read more

DROUGHT UPDATE: WEST COAST, MIDWEST WATER SUPPLIES DWINDLE

05/28/2021

Central Valley Farmers to Get No Allocation Farmers in California’s Central Valley Project will get none of their water allocations in 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Urban areas served by the Central Valley Project will receive 25% of their contracted...Read more

Scientists propose irrigation improvements

05/26/2021

With threats of water scarcity complicating the need to feed a growing global population, it is more important than ever to get crop irrigation right. Overwatering can deplete local water supplies and lead to polluted runoff, while underwatering can lead to sub-optimal crop...Read more