The Upper Republican NRD is accepting applications until Nov. 15 for a program that pays farmers $10-$15 acre if they reduce nitrogen applications by at least 15% or 40lbs/acre in 2026.

The same program was offered statewide last year and paid for by the State of Nebraska. Now, the $1 million to fund the program is coming from the Nebraska Corn Board. NRDs across the state administer the program. Eligible crop types planted in 2026 are corn, wheat, sugar beets and potatoes – wheat is a new qualified crop in the program.   

Applications for the program and supporting documents are available at the bottom of this story. You can also apply via the online portal linked last below and titled "online application form." If you choose to print and complete the applications and crop and nitrogen reporting forms, you can submit them by emailing them to natejenkins@urnrd.org, mailing them to PO Box 1140, Imperial, NE, or dropping them off at the URNRD office at 511 E. 5th St. in Imperial. One application per field is required and fields enrolled in last year’s program can’t be re-enrolled.  The URNRD will prioritize applications from farmers who plan to use nitrogen management products and/or technologies.

 “Priority A Areas” under the program eligible for $15/acre payments are phase II – phase IV groundwater quality areas within the URNRD where groundwater testing by the URNRD have shown nitrogen levels to be at least 5 milligrams per liter. “Priority B Areas” in the program eligible for $12/acre payments are irrigated lands in phase I groundwater quality areas in the URNRD where nitrogen levels in groundwater are less than 5 milligrams per liter. All other areas of the district are “Priority C Areas” eligible for $10/acre. A map below titled "Groundwater Quality Phase Areas Map" shows what areas of the district’s three counties are in each phase. You can also contact Julia Strand at the URNRD office, 308-888-1934, to find out what phase designation your cropland is in.

The baseline nitrogen application rate the 2026 rate must be 15% or 40lbs less than will be based on the average application rate for the same crop any number of the last three years. The baseline rate information must be provided on a form that is alongside the program application available on the URNRD website. If the crop the field will be planted to in 2026 hasn’t been grown on the field in 2023, 2024 or 2025, participants must submit soil sample results for nitrogen levels. Those results will be used in a formula provided by the University of Nebraska that recommend nitrogen application rates, and the recommendation will be the baseline rate that is compared to the 2026 application rate.

 If you have questions, contact Nate Jenkins at 308-883-1535 or natejenkins@urnrd.org.