Central Platte and Twin Platte Natural Resource District producers encouraged to apply for irrigation cost share by Nov. 15

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is encouraging producers in the Central Platte and Twin Platte Natural Resource Districts to apply for irrigation management funding by Nov. 15, 2024. The funding, part of the Ogallala Aquifer and Platte River Recovery Project, aims to help farmers improve water quality and efficiency in their operations. 

The program offers cost-sharing support for implementing efficient irrigation techniques, installing conservation practices, and converting irrigated acres to non-irrigated farmland.  

According to Lyndon Vogt, Central Platte NRD general manager, recent changes to groundwater management areas mean that more producers can now benefit from this funding. “With this change, even more producers would benefit from the RCPP funding to address conservation needs,” says Vogt. 

The funding is available through the NRCS’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program, which is currently in its second year of a five-year funding cycle under the 2018 Farm Bill. The project aims to reduce water consumption and improve irrigation efficiency to alleviate pressure on the Platte River and local groundwater supplies. Additionally, nitrate reduction in targeted areas is a key focus, particularly where nitrate levels exceed drinking water standards. 

Producers interested in applying can contact their local NRCS office for more details.