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NRD News and Events

Nebraska’s NRDs Plant 100 Millionth Tree

Monday, April 25, 2022

LINCOLN, Nebraska – Since their inception in 1972, Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) have been planting conservation trees and shrubs for windbreaks, erosion control, wildlife habitat and other conservation purposes. This spring, the NRD Conservation Tree Pro...

March 2022 Newsletter

Monday, March 21, 2022

ACE Camp Pairs Natural Resources with Summer Fun

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

LINCOLN, Neb. – Whether it’s a reptile wrapped around a wrist or a cool splash in the Middle Loup River, Adventure Camp about the Environment (ACE) has something to offer this summer. Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) are now accepting registrations for ACE...

Farming Evolution 2022

Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Get out your calendars and mark Wednesday & Thursday, February 16 & 17 as the dates for the annual Farming Evolution event. Whether you look at regenerative agriculture concepts with a wary eye or fully embrace the ideas, this event is for you. This year�...

Executive Travel Partners with Nebraska’s NRDs to Plant 1M Trees

Monday, December 27, 2021

LINCOLN, Nebraska – Executive Travel has announced a partnership with Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) to plant 1 million trees over the next five years through the ETGreen campaign, starting with 50,000 trees in 2022. ETGreen was launched in September 2021...

Funds Available to Help Restore and Protect Rangeland

Friday, October 22, 2021

LINCOLN, Neb., Oct. 22, 2021 – Through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Nebraska producers have funding opportunities to help address the spread of invasive woody vegetation on rangeland. Landowners interested in rece...

NRD Hall of Fame Inductees Announced at Husker Harvest Days

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Four individuals honored for conservation workLINCOLN, Neb. – During Husker Harvest Days Sept. 15, Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) recognized four individuals, who will be inducted into the NRD Hall of Fame later this month.“Nebraska’s Natural Reso...

EPA Announces $263,000 Grant for Nebraska to Improve Drinking Water for Underserved, Disadvantaged Communities

Friday, August 27, 2021

(Lenexa, Kan., Aug. 27, 2021) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced the availability of $263,000 in grant funding for Nebraska to improve drinking water for residents in small towns and underserved communities.This funding is part of $25 million in Wa...

Hot topic: Understanding blue-green algae

Sunday, July 11, 2021

DARYL BAUER Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Jul 11, 2021 Updated Jul 17, 2021It is midsummer, it is hot and that means prime time for blue-green algae blooms.There is not a body of water here that does not have blue-green algae,...

Daily Crop Water Use Data Now Available

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

A new tool for irrigators to track crop water use and evaporation is now on the Upper Republican NRD website. Near the bottom of the home page at www.urnrd.org is a tab “Weather, Real-Time Rain Amounts, ET and Water Levels” that directs users to the evapotranspiration (E...

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Regional/National Water News

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

Rising levels of nitrates still contaminating groundwater

03/15/2021

Nitrate levels in Nebraska’s groundwater are on the rise, especially in portions of Northeast Nebraska. The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) has analyzed the nitrate data gathered as part of the routine Groundwater Quality Sampling Program and found some...Read more

Report: Burst pipe at Mead ethanol plant leads to discharge of waste

02/18/2021

Chris Dunker A frozen pipe burst at the AltEn ethanol plant near Mead early Friday morning, causing waste to spill out of the property and onto a neighboring University of Nebraska-Lincoln research center site. Staff at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center,...Read more

More Farmers Are Planting Cover Crops Thanks To State Incentive Programs

02/10/2021

By DANA CRONIN • JAN 29, 2021 Last month, the Illinois Department of Agriculture opened applications for its second annual Fall Covers for Spring Savings Program -- which provides a crop insurance discount for each acre of cover crop a farmer plants. It filled up in less...Read more

Research shows grazing cover crops can add economic value

01/18/2021

By KAY LEDBETTER Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Growing dual-purpose wheat for both grazing and grain production is an important agricultural practice in the Southern Great Plains. But of late, more Texas Rolling Plains producers want to know if alternative systems to...Read more

Contract approved for flood mitigation evaluation

12/25/2020

Melanie Wilkinson YORK – The York City Council has agreed to enter into a contract with JEO Consulting Group which will now do a flood mitigation evaluation for the city. This goal of the study is to eventually reduce the size and number of flood plain designations in the...Read more

California Water Futures Begin Trading Amid Fear of Scarcity

12/06/2020

Water joined gold, oil and other commodities traded on Wall Street, highlighting worries that the life-sustaining natural resource may become scarce across more of the world. Farmers, hedge funds and municipalities alike are now able to hedge against -- or bet on -- future...Read more

U.S. agricultural water use declining for most crops and livestock production

11/16/2020

By Marianne Stein URBANA, Ill. – Climate change and a growing world population require efficient use of natural resources. Water is a crucial component in food production, and water management strategies are needed to support worldwide changes in food consumption and...Read more

Ogallala Aquifer’s shallowness has meant growers have to adjust

07/25/2020

Editor's Note The following is excerpted notes from Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Director of Communications Bob Kjelland who visited with Timothy Pautler, a third-generation family farmer and irrigator who lives at Stratton, Colorado, and serves on multiple boards and he...Read more

Emerald Ash Borer confirmed in Kearney

06/29/2020

by KHGI KEARNEY, Neb. — Emerald ash borer (EAB) has been confirmed in Kearney by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Kearney Park and Recreation staff discovered the tree on a street terrace, according to the NDA. The...Read more