Chemigation Certification and Permit Renewals Due by June 1

Producers planning to apply fertilizer or pesticides through their irrigation systems this season are reminded that chemigation certification and permit renewals are due by June 1.

Under the Nebraska Chemigation Act, anyone who calibrates or operates a chemigation system must be certified to ensure safe application practices that protect groundwater and surface water from contamination. Certification requires attending a University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension training session and passing a written exam. Once certified, applicators are valid for four years. Online training is also available through the UNL Pesticide Safety Education Program at pested.unl.edu.

In addition to certification, all chemigation permits through Central Platte NRD must be renewed annually. Permits expire on June 1, and the renewal fee is $20 per system. While many renewals do not require an inspection, the NRD does conduct spot checks on systems in operation.

New chemigation permits submitted after June 1 will be treated as original applications and require inspection before approval. New permits and special permits each carry a $60 application fee, while emergency permits needed on short notice are available at a $500 fee. Portions of these fees are submitted to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE), which works with NRDs to administer the Chemigation Act.

To avoid delays during the irrigation season, producers are encouraged to confirm their certification status and submit all required forms and fees as early as possible.

Your CPNRD Contact: Courtney Olson at (308) 385-6282 or olson@cpnrd.org.

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