Imperial, Neb. –  The Upper Republican NRD and other NRDs in Nebraska are administering the Nitrogen Use Efficiency Program (NUE) intended to improve nitrogen-use efficiency during the 2026 crop year using $1 million from the Nebraska Corn Board.

 Corn farmers have until May 15 to apply for the program that pays $15/acre for up to 160 acres per application. Farmers can enroll multiple fields but can’t apply for fields that are or were enrolled in a separate program, the Nitrogen Reduction Incentive program. That program offered payments to farmers who reduced nitrogen usage by at least 15% or 40lbs per acre.

 Under the NUE program, farmers who achieve a nitrogen use efficiency score of 1.0 or less in 2026 will qualify for the $15/acre payment. Nitrogen-use efficiency measures how effectively a crop converts available nitrogen into harvested grain yield. It accounts for commercial fertilizer that’s applied and credited nitrogen, which can include nitrogen from the soil, water, cover crops and manure applications.

 Participants must collect soil samples prior to planting to determine residual soil nitrate and organic matter levels. Irrigators must collect water samples during the irrigation season to determine residual nitrates in the water; and if manure is applied a sample must be tested to determine nitrogen levels in the manure.

 Applications for the program and supporting documents are available below. One application per field is required. Of the $1 million the Nebraska Corn Board is providing the program statewide, approximately $49,000 is projected to be available to farmers within the URNRD. All fields planted to corn in 2026 with the exception of those that have participated in the Nitrogen Reduction Incentive program are eligible. However, the URNRD will prioritize fields in areas where groundwater testing has shown elevated nitrogen levels.

 Contact Nate Jenkins at 308-883-1535 or natejenkins@urnrd.org with questions.