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NRD News and Events

Nebraska unveils state's first Climate Action Plan, aims to reduce emissions by over 30%

Monday, March 11, 2024

Andrew Wegley Nebraska submitted the state's first Climate Action Plan to federal regulators earlier this month, outlining voluntary and incentive-based programs aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollutants in the state.The...

USDA Announces Conservation Reserve Program General Signup for 2024

Monday, March 4, 2024

LINCOLN, Nebraska, March 4, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can begin signing up for the general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) starting March 4 and running through March 29, 2024. This conse...

NRDs Taking Orders for Spring Conservation Tree Plantings

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Conservation Tree Windbreaks Provide Critical Livestock ProtectionLINCOLN, Nebraska – Nebraska's Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) are actively taking orders for conservation tree seedlings, and the deadline to order is fast approaching. Secure your favorite species and m...

NDEE extends deadline to request free nitrate sample kits

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) is extending the deadline for Nebraskans to request a free nitrate sample kit and lab analysis.Sample kits can now be requested through March 1, 2024, or until funds are expended. The free nitrat...

NRCS and NRDs Continue Successful Partnership on Dam Assessments

Thursday, January 25, 2024

LINCOLN, Nebraska – To ensure water infrastructure safety, Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) and other sponsors continue a strong partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on several dam assessments...

Scholarships offered for college students in natural resources field

Thursday, January 18, 2024

GRAND ISLAND — Central Platte Natural Resources District (CPNRD) is accepting applications for the CPNRD-Ron Bishop Memorial College Scholarship Program.Applicants must be a college junior, senior or graduate student enrolled in a natural resources course of study at an ac...

Public Can Participate in Jan. 9 Board Meeting Online

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

The URNRD Board of Directors meeting at 9 a.m. on Jan. 9 will be held via virtual conferencing and can also be attended in-person at the URNRD office in Imperial, 511 East 5th Street. A web link that provides virtual access to the meeting will be provided on this website's m...

URNRD Launches 2024 Probe Cost Share Program

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Applications to receive cost share for soil-moisture probes used in 2024 are now being accepted by the Upper Republican NRD. Under the program, irrigators in Perkins, Dundy and Chase Counties are reimbursed for half the cost of up to three soil-moisture probes.Use of soil-mo...

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING REGARDING THE REPUBLICAN RIVER BASIN-WIDE PLAN

Monday, November 6, 2023

JOINTLY DEVELOPED BY THE REPUBLICAN RIVER NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICTS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.The Upper Republican Natural Resources District (NRD), Middle Republican NRD, Lower Republican NRD, Tri-Basin NRD, and the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (...

Water use allocations make sense for Nebraska’s future generations

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Isn’t Nebraska something? Whether you were born and bred here, or were lucky enough to move into the area, you learn pretty fast that there’s a lot to love about the Cornhusker State. Two of the things that make our state special are our abundance of natural resources an...

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Regional/National Water News

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

Senate approves $2.8B plan to boost conservation, parks

06/22/2020

By: MATTHEW DALY Associated Press The Senate has approved a bipartisan bill that would spend nearly $3 billion on conservation projects, outdoor recreation and maintenance of national parks and other public lands WASHINGTON -- The Senate has approved a bipartisan bill that...Read more

Taking Conservation to a Higher Level

06/22/2020

With Skip Hyberg Evidence suggested that in many respects, the environmental gains from the adoption of conservation practices by U.S. farmers may have stalled in recent decades. Farm Journal Foundation, working with the Trust in Food division of Farm Journal Media,...Read more

23 years of water quality data from crop-livestock systems

06/09/2020

Research shows effects of native tallgrass prairie, crop-livestock systems on erosion, water quality EL RENO, Okla. — Long-term research is important to understand how land management impacts runoff and erosion, which pose serious threats to soil and water quality worldwide...Read more

Technical Assistance for Watershed Improvement in Nebraska

06/01/2020

By Katrina Vaitkus Since 1972, the Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District (MNNRD) has been devoted to helping solve natural resource issues in their area. Many of those issues revolve around erosion and water quality in the Long Pine Creek Watershed. This watershed,...Read more

UNL Water for Food Institute: U.S. Livestock Producers Using Less Water

02/25/2020

By Scott Schrage, University of Nebraska Communications, 2/25/2020 Six decades after pouring water into its livestock production, the United States is investing relative drops in the bucket to produce its meat, milk and eggs, says a recent analysis from the University of...Read more

Central Nebraska is in 'full recovery mode' after flooding

07/22/2019

By Susan Szalewski / World-Herald staff writer Jul 15, 2019 South-central Nebraska communities that were hit with heavy rain and flooding last week were in “full recovery mode” Sunday, an emergency management official said. Residents ripped out soggy drywall and other...Read more

USDA Announces Sign-Up Period for Updated Conservation Stewardship Program

04/10/2019

LINCOLN, NE. , April 10, 2019 – The deadline for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications to be considered for funding in fiscal year 2019 is May 10, 2019. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) plans to invest up to $700 million for new enrollments...Read more