The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that financial assistance is available for conservation projects within the Lower Loup Natural Resources District. These funds are available through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The project “Irrigation and Nutrient Management in lower Loup River Basin” is funded through a partnership with the Lower Loup Natural Resources District and University of Nebraska Extension. This partnership project provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to adopt water quality and quantity conservation practices.

Irrigated land within the Lower Loup Natural Resources District spans 1.2 million acres, equivalent to 10% of Nebraska’s land. “In one of the state’s most productive agricultural regions, water quantity and quality challenges highlight the need for conservation efforts led by our producers,” said Robert Lawson, NRCS State Conservationist for Nebraska.

The project is designed to assist producers with improving nutrient management and irrigation system efficiency. Producers within the Lower Loup Natural Resources District (LLNRD) boundary are eligible to receive financial assistance under this project. The LLNRD has identified priority water quality and quantity management areas (see Figure 1). Applications including land within these areas will be prioritized. An Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) waiver has been approved for this project. This eliminates the requirement for producers to meet the AGI limitation requirements to participate in the program.

Interested landowners and agricultural producers are encouraged to contact their local USDA service center for more information and to apply. While applications are accepted year-round, the final date to apply for fiscal year 2025 funding is Friday, May 30, 2025. Applications received after the deadline will be batched and considered in the next funding period.

The RCPP promotes coordination between NRCS and its partners to deliver conservation assistance to producers and landowners. The NRCS aids producers through partnership agreements and through program contracts or easement agreements. Assistance is delivered in accordance with the rules of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. To learn more about NRCS programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also apply for NRCS programs, manage conservation plans and contracts, and view and print conservation maps by logging into their Farmers.gov account. If you don’t already have an account, visit Farmers.gov and sign up today.

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