How can farmers and conservation professionals work together more effectively to steward the land? What are the obstacles that prevent conservation measures from being implemented in Nebraska? And where are the gaps in support for conservation that could be addressed in the future?

From water quality, to erosion, to wetlands and wildlife habitat, the recent Local Working Group Meeting held at the Upper Big Blue Natural Resource District (NRD) office was an opportunity for government agency and non-profit representatives, as well as members of the public, to ask questions and voice their concerns about natural resource management in the area. 

The meeting was hosted by the NRD and Nebraska Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Local Working Groups serve as an advisory committee to Nebraska NRCS and are organized on natural resources district boundaries. They meet annually to provide information, analysis, and recommendations to the State Technical Committee of NRCS. This group includes Federal, State, county, Tribal or local government representatives, according to Josh Bowers, district conservationist for the NRCS, whose agency guides the Local Working Group in the area served by the Upper Big Blue NRD. 

Meeting attendees brought their resource concerns from across the district and engaged in a robust dialogue about what comes next for conservation programs and funding. The event was a valuable opportunity to discuss current programs and priorities, as well as brainstorm ideas for future consideration. Farmers and those that work with farmers shared obstacles to putting conservation dollars to work on the ground, such as confusion around program specifics, frustration with paperwork, and a lack of trust and willingness to work with government agencies that could provide funding.

Conservation funding from federal, state, local, and private sources were discussed, including programs like the Nebraska Nitrogen Reduction Incentive Act (NIRIA). The initial enrollment period for this new program closed on January 15. In the Upper Big Blue NRD, $95,000 of state funding had been set aside for farmers who utilize less nitrogen in the growing season ahead. According to NRD Engineering Technician Drew ten Bensel, the NRD received about 200 applications totaling well over $100,000. These applications will be ranked for funding in the coming weeks, giving priority to farmers in areas of the district with higher levels of nitrate in the groundwater. This program aims to protect drinking water by providing an incentive to qualifying producers who use 40 pounds or 15 percent less nitrogen. Some frustration over this program was shared, as it doesn’t reward those who have already reduced their nitrogen inputs and instead pays producers who have previously overapplied. 

On the topic of erosion prevention, there was a lot of discussion around cover crops, which have many soil health benefits. Projects Department Manager Jack Wergin talked about possible changes to the NRD’s cover crop program that could make it more flexible for enrolled producers. Currently, only high risk areas of the Recharge Lake watershed and lands within wellhead protection areas are eligible for cover crop cost share through the NRD’s Water Quality Management Plan.  The NRD is considering expanding the areas eligible for cover crop program.

NRD board member Andrew Eberspacher, who farms in Seward County, discussed concerns with implementing cover crops in dry years and suggested more emphasis be placed on no-till, which also reduces erosion and improves soil health, while not impacting the water balance in the soil profile. 

Eberspacher and fellow NRD board member from Seward Richard Bohaty also suggested more support for soil testing, as it is a simple way to determine the nitrogen needs of a field and to prevent over application of fertilizer. Currently soil testing is required in certain parts of the district where water quality is of greater concern.

The group discussed the possibility of funding through the NRD for an emergency cover crop program that could assist producers who have been impacted by hail or other natural disasters and aren’t able to replant their cash crop. A cover crop would prevent nitrogen already applied to the field from leaching into the groundwater in that circumstance. All agreed that the program would have to have an expedited application and approval process, as there is a small window of opportunity after a storm to plant a cover crop before weeds have time to establish.

When it comes to protecting water quantity, Wergin discussed the variable rate irrigation program that the NRD offered previously, suggesting that it be reconsidered if the district enters an allocation period triggered by sustained groundwater declines. He also discussed funding through the private dams program, which offers landowners technical and financial assistance up to a maximum cost-share of $75,000. According to Wergin, this program is an important long-term investment, as the dams provide a variety of ecosystem benefits for decades, including flood reduction, groundwater recharge, and wildlife habitat. 

Nick Arneson with the Nature Conservancy gave an update on the Nebraska Soil Carbon Project. This five-year, public-private partnership is wrapping up and will soon have final numbers to report, including total acres across the Upper Big Blue and Central Platte NRDs that were enrolled. The program provided funding for diverse crop rotations, cover crops, and no-till practices. Producers had the opportunity to try out carbon markets through the program as well. 

Nebraska Game and Parks District Manager Scott Luedtke suggested that if landowners in the state want to do anything for wildlife—whether it’s on grasslands, working lands, or forests—his organization would likely be able to fund the project. Luedtke shared that in the Rainwater Basin area (which covers most of the Upper Big Blue NRD), there has been an 80 percent loss of wetland acres. Wetlands provide many benefits beyond wildlife habitat, including groundwater recharge and filtration. A challenge to protecting wetlands is that the financial incentives from agricultural development are often greater than what is offered by conservation programs, as drained wetlands can make highly productive cropland.  

NRCS conservationists from across the district shared the areas of greatest resource concern in the areas they serve, including fish and wildlife habitat loss in York and Polk Counties; lack of grazing lands limiting livestock production in Seward County; soil quality and soil health in Hamilton County; and water supply in Fillmore County. District Conservationist Josh Bowers will gather these concerns as well as ideas and requests from other agencies and send them to the State Technical Advisory Committee for consideration.