Upper Elkhorn NRD Awards 2026 Senior Scholarships
Each year the Upper Elkhorn NRD awards three scholarships to graduating high school seniors in the district. These are students who have chosen to pursue a career in a field related to agriculture, natural resources or the environment. This year’s recipients are Shaylie Kester of Summerland Public School; Clair Krysl of Summerland Public School; Kayde Ramm of Stuart Public School; and, alternate Jenna Funk of Summerland Public School. Dana and Candice Kester will be supporting Shaylie as she is planning a career in Agribusiness while attending Wayne State College. Clair Krysl, the daughter of Josh and Melissa, is planning a career in Animal Science and is planning to attend the Northeast Community College. Kayde’s parents are Justin and Megan Ramm, and he has chosen to pursue a career in Livestock Management while attending the Southeast Community College. The 2026 alternate, Jenna Funk, with the help of her parents Bob and Maria, is planning to study Business Administration/Agribusiness at Wayne State College.
Scholarship winners will receive a scholarship in the amount of $500 to help defer costs during their first year of College. The Upper Elkhorn NRD would like to congratulate the 2026 Senior Scholarship Winners and wish them good luck in achieving their future goals.
Upper Elkhorn NRD Announces New Nitrate Treatment Cost Share Program
The Upper Elkhorn NRD has allocated funding for a new Nitrate Treatment Cost Share Program! Landowners with a private drinking water well that tests over the Federal Health Standard of 10 parts per million for nitrate may be eligible for 90% costshare up to $2,000 for a water treatment system to remove the nitrate. Water sample collection by NRD staff is required to be eligible. Guidelines for this program are available by contacting the Upper Elkhorn NRD office at 402-336-3867 or by visiting our website at www.uenrd.org.
Nitrate Treatment Cost Share Guidance Document
Chemigation Renewal Deadline June 1, 2026!
The deadline for renewal chemigation applications is June 1! Anyone wishing to run fertilizer/chemicals through their center pivot irrigation system will need to submit an application for chemigation to the Natural Resources District. Renewal applications will cost $30; New applications will cost $100 per site and must be approved by NRD personnel before any chemigation activity; and, Emergency applications will cost $250. Chemigation forms are available at the Upper Elkhorn NRD office and NRCS Office in Neligh or online at www.uenrd.org. Online forms may be filled out online, printed and returned to the NRD office with the appropriate fee. Remember, it is the responsibility of each chemigator to maintain and permit each chemigation site on an annual basis. For further information or questions, please contact the Upper Elkhorn NRD, (402) 336-3867.
Upper Elkhorn NRD Phase II Report Deadline December 31!! Paper Reports Will No Longer Be Accepted!
The deadline for the 2025 Phase II Annual Reports is December 31, 2025. If you farm in a Phase II or Phase III area you are required to submit a Phase II report for every field larger than 40 acres. Where more than 50 pounds per acre of actual nitrogen fertilizer, commercial or organic, is applied (for example: corn) a full report is required. A mandatory two foot deep soil sampling analysis is required for the Phase II report. The soil sample used on the 2025 annual report should have been taken in Fall 2024 or Spring 2025. If less than 50 pounds per acre is applied, a report must be submitted stating the crop planted. If a report is not completed for a field it is considered noncompliant. Landowners with noncompliant fields will not be able to participate in any UENRD programs which include the new Reverse Osmosis Costshare Program, groundwater transfers, NRD cost share programs or be eligible for a new or replacement well permit.
Phase II reports are to be filled out using the new producer portal, Producer Connect. The link for the portal is available on the UENRD website. Paper copies will not be accepted. In addition to the continuation of the Phase I and II requirements, Phase III includes a random soil sampling conducted by the UENRD. Those selected for soil sampling for Fall 2025 have already been selected and notified. Soil sampling is underway.
For more information on Phase II Annual Reports or Nitrogen Certification visit the UENRD website at https://www.uenrd.org/ or contact the UENRD office at 402-336-3867.
Upper Elkhorn NRD Groundwater Irrigated Acre Transfer Period November 1, 2025 – March 1 2026
The Upper Elkhorn NRD will be taking requests for the transfer of groundwater irrigated acres from November 1, 2025 through March 1, 2026. Due to changes in the UENRD GWMP Rules and Regulations, there is now a $50 application fee for landowners who would like to make an appointment and review a possible transfer. The Upper Elkhorn NRD Board of Directors have adopted changes to the Transfer program over the last couple of years pertaining to the Transfer Agreement and added an application fee. The Transfer Agreement, transfer procedures and support information can be found on the UENRD website at www.uenrd.org. We are encouraging anyone interested in signing up for a Transfer to go through the information on the website first before making an appointment. If you have questions, please feel free to contact the office at 402-336-3867.