Sign Up! New $$ Nitrogen Cost Share Programs

Sign up for one of the following new programs aimed to improve farm profitability while improving nitrogen management.

Risk of Adoption Mitigation Pilot Program

New pilot program aimed at encouraging the adoption of sensor-based technologies in Central Platte, Lewis & Clark and Lower Niobrara NRDs. The program aligns with priorities identified by the Governor’s Water Quality & Quantity Task Force and is designed to incentivize and reduce risk for producers adopting model- and sensor-based nitrogen management practices. These approaches have demonstrated the potential to improve both farm profitability and environmental stewardship.

A unique feature of the program, not commonly included in traditional cost-share efforts, allows participating producers to receive up to $80 per acre to offset any loss in profit resulting from following program recommendations.

Application             Specifications

Your CPNRD Contacts:
Courtney Widup   widup@cpnrd.org        308-395-7605
Collin Quandt       quandt@cpnrd.org      308-395-7072
Kelly Cole               cole@cpnrd.org           308-395-7134

Sensor-Based Nutrient Management Cost-Share

CPNRD’s Sensor-Based Nutrient Management cost-share payment rate has increased to $13.50/acre with a two-year commitment. The program covers 75% of the service fee, to support producers in using data-driven nitrogen management platforms that help improve groundwater quality across the District. Local provider platforms, such as Sentinel Ag, assist producers by delivering daily crop nitrogen and soil-moisture insights, helping maximize crop potential while minimizing wasted nutrients. Recent results show increased profitability for producers who adopt these technologies.

• Participating producers receive 1/3 of cost-share payment after the first year, with the remaining 2/3 paid following the second year.
• Producers may enroll up to two fields, for a combined maximum of 320 acres.

Cost Share Application               Program Details           Sentinel Ag Website

Your CPNRD Contacts
Kelly Cole – To Apply:  cole@cpnrd.org   308-395-7134
Dean Krull – Program Information: dkrull1@nebraska.edu   402-469-0155

Nebraska Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) Program

With funding provided by the Nebraska Corn Board and in partnership with the Natural Resources Districts (NRDs), the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment (DWEE) is administering the Nebraska Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) Program. The purpose of this program is to encourage Nebraska corn producers to improve NUE in their corn fields. Participants are incentivized to achieve a NUE of 1.0 or under, for the 2026 crop as described below. Improving NUE can deliver meaningful economic and environmental benefits without sacrificing productivity.

What is Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE)? Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) measures how effectively a crop converts available nitrogen (N) into harvested grain yield, quantifying the relationship between N inputs and crop output. NUE accounts for total available N by including credits such as soil, water, legumes, and manure (lbs./acre) divided by grain yield (bu/acre).

Application deadline is May 15, 2026          Online Application

Flyer            Guidance Document                Print Application

Your CPNRD Contacts:
Courtney Widup   widup@cpnrd.org        308-395-7605
Collin Quandt       quandt@cpnrd.org      308-395-7072