Northeast Nebraska Ag Conference
Second Annual Northeast Nebraska Ag Conference Proves to Be Another Successful Event
The second annual Northeast Nebraska Ag Conference (NNAC) was held on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at Northeast Community College in Norfolk. The all-day conference offered something for everyone. Whether attendees were interested in new management practices or were already implementing them, a variety of breakout sessions allowed each attendee to choose the sessions that best met their needs. Conference Press Release
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
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.
Upper Elkhorn NRD Offering 3 Senior Scholarships
The Upper Elkhorn Natural Resources District is offering three $500 scholarships to graduating High School Seniors from the District. These scholarships are available for students who are planning to further their education in a field related to natural resources or agriculture. Seniors who are interested should contact their guidance counselor or the Upper Elkhorn NRD office in O’Neill for further information, eligibility requirements and applications. Scholarship information has been sent to all District schools and is also available at the Upper Elkhorn NRD website at www.uenrd.org/education.html. The deadline for all scholarship applications is April 3, 2026.
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.