Nebraska farmers could receive up to $17,000 for dryland operations and up to $23,000 for irrigated operations through a new statewide program designed to help farmers invest in technology and practices that improve water management, nutrient efficiency and soil health.
The ONE RED Ag Data Bank & Grants Program is being rolled out by the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment in partnership with Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts, and is designed to help farmers adopt tools and practices that make economic sense on the farm while generating better information to support Nebraska’s long-term water, nutrient and soil resource management.
The program was introduced during Husker Harvest Days, where Rural Radio Network sat down with department Director Jesse Bradley, NRD representative Jim Olson and York County farmer Phil Christensen.
“This is a really exciting project for the state of Nebraska,” Bradley said. “We’ve, as a team at the department, been working on this for well over a year.”
ONE RED combines participation incentives through the agricultural data bank with grant funding for eligible equipment and technology investments that support water management, nutrient efficiency and soil health.
Up to $23,000
Farmers participating in the Ag Data Bank can receive an initial $2,000 payment for sharing required farm data, followed by $1,000 for each additional year of participation.
Additionally, eligible farmers can receive grant funding toward approved equipment and technology investments. Unlike traditional cost-share programs that require producers to cover a percentage of an eligible purchase, ONE RED can reimburse 100% of eligible grant costs up to the farmer’s approved award amount.
The equipment and technology grant starts with a $10,000 base allocation. Additional funding is available based on enrolled acres and water measurement. Bradley said a farmer enrolling 1,000 irrigated acres could potentially receive up to $23,000 when the incentives and grant funding are combined.
“Those incentives we’re talking about, those are 100% reimbursements to producers,” Bradley said. “These aren’t 50-50 cost shares.”
ONE RED is available to eligible Nebraska farmers growing corn, soybeans, sorghum or canola with at least 80 cumulative acres within an eligible area. Farmers can enroll up to 1,000 acres. Program details and eligibility remain subject to final approval and available funding.
Investing on the farm
For Christensen, the program could help his operation continue investing in technology such as variable-rate irrigation and sensor-based fertigation.
“The main idea is just to be better at managing the water and managing the nitrogen,” Christensen said.
Olson said the program’s flexibility is one of its strengths and can allow ONE RED incentives to work alongside other conservation programs.
“It’s kind of going to meet producers where they’re at in their conservation journey,” Olson said.
Farmers keep control of their data
Farmers keep ownership and control of their data. Information used for broader program analysis and reporting will be aggregated to protect individual information.
“The state isn’t taking ownership of data. It’s their data,” Bradley said.
Enrollment coming after harvest
Initial enrollment is expected to begin following the 2026 harvest, with Bradley pointing to early November as a likely starting point. Grant opportunities are expected to follow after the first of the year.
Producers interested in the program are encouraged to contact their local NRD or submit an initial expression of interest through the ONE RED website.
“I really believe this is a generational opportunity for our producers,” Bradley said. “Everybody’s at a different place across the state and maybe in that adoption cycle. Really, we have a place for all of them in this program.”
For more information, visit ONE RED Ag Data Bank & Grants Program | Nebraska Farm Incentives.
