Cost Share

Items Covered: New sprinklers and pressure regulators
Cost-Share Rate: 50% of cost up to $1,000. 1 contract per landowner, yearly.

Must follow NRCS design and specification. Regulators for the system must be included in order to get cost-share. There must be improvement in irrigation efficiency.

Items Covered: Tractor or fertilizer rig to apply variable rate fertilizer
Item Costs: $1,100 for Meter
$175 for Manifold
Cost-Share Rate: 50% of cost up to $2,000. 1 contract per landowner, yearly.

Items Covered: Nitrogen inhibitor application equipment (tractor or fertilizer rig) used when applying anhydrous ammonia, liquid and dry nitrogen fertilizers.
Cost-Share: 50% of total cost up to $2,000
Requirements: 

• The recipient of the cost assistance will be required to provide a copy of bills for the equipment purchased before payment will be made.
• A farm site or equipment inspection may be made by NRD staff to assure the equipment is in place and being used.

• The variable rate irrigation system must be designed by a qualified pivot manufacturer or certified dealer for the individual operator’s tract.
• The center pivot must irrigate a minimum of 65 acres.
• Applicants will be ranked according to the risk to groundwater and Municipal drinking water supplies. Application will be ranked according to the following priority areas: (1) Wellhead Protection Management Areas, (2) Water Quality Sub-Areas, (3) Rest of the District.
• Must be certificated by an NRD official

• Applications will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis.
• Applications must be made on forms provided by the District and all necessary well information must be supplied.
• Decommissioning of the well may not begin until the cost-share application has been approved by the District.
• The District will allow six (6) months from the time funds are approved to complete decommissioning, unless an extension is granted by the NRD.

Cost-Share: 75% of actual cost, up to the maximum of $500 for all water wells other than hand dug water wells, which shall be eligible for up to a maximum of $750.  

Items Covered: 
-All chemigation equipment needed on irrigation system for applying liquid nitrogen fertilizers
       Including:
           -the mainline check valve
-fertilizer injection pump and/or chemical injection valve.

Cost-Share: 50% of the total cost, not to exceed $1,500 of the equipment costs. One time use program.

Requirements:

• Applicant has not done chemigation/fertigation in the last 5 years.
• Applications must be made on forms provided by the District.
• The application must be approved by the District prior to the purchase of the equipment.
• Applicants will be required to obtain a chemigation permit from the Little Blue NRD and have the unit inspected by the NRD.
• Applicants will be required to apply a percentage of nitrogen fertilizer through irrigation system equipped with the chemigation unit.
• This practice is an incentive program, limited to 1 contract per producer, farm unit and or/corporation

Purpose: To control erosion on cropland and to reduce pollution of water from non-point sources. A terrace intercepts surface runoff and conducts it to a stable outlet at a non-erosive velocity.

Items Covered:

• Slide slopes 13.5 feet and over
• Parallel, cut and fill
• Flat Channel
• Push—up
• Parallel Flat Channel
• Seed for back slopes (critical area)
• Common
• Certified
• Slope of 10% or greater
• Extra Long Terrace Slopes
• Narrow Base Terrace

Must be planned and installed in accordance with technical specifications of the NRCS.
Cost-share is not available for treating or protecting HEL sod-busted areas, if it has not been crop farmed for at least 5 years.
Application Process: Applications will be accepted year-round

Cost-Share: 60% of the average cost or actual cost whichever is less to the landowner, up to $10,000 in a 2-year period

Purpose: To dispose of excess water from a terrace system without causing erosion
Items Covered:
–Materials for underground outlets

Cost-Share: 60% of the average cost or actual cost whichever is less to the landowner, up to $10,000 in a 2-year period

-Cost-share is not available for treating or protecting HEL sod-busted areas, if it has not been crop farmed for at least 5 years.
-Must be planned and installed in accordance with technical specifications of the NRCS.

Purpose: To provide storage of surface water runoff. Dams are constructed across either normally dry or flowing water courses and provide stored water to replace or supplement the use of groundwater. In addition, these impoundments    enhance groundwater recharge, prevent erosion and pollution and provide flood control and wildlife habitat.

Items Covered:

• Earth Moved – Excavation
• Earth Fill – Class A compaction (moisture controlled)
• Earth Fill – Class C compaction
• Seed (critical area)
• Common
• Certified
• Fencing
• Other construction items
• Mulching

Must be planned and installed in accordance with technical specifications of the NRCS.

• In accordance with Nebraska Law, all water impoundment dams designed for storage must be constructed in a manner that allows inflow to be release on demand by senior downstream water right holders. This means that all spillway outlet works must be equipped with a draw down tube and control valve.

Nebraska law requires that all dams, no matter what size, for which a storage right is requested must have drawings and specifications submitted to the Nebraska Department

Cost-Share: 60% of the average cost or actual cost whichever is less to the landowner, up to $10,000 in a 2-year period 

Purpose: To stabilize the grade in an existing water course to prevent or heal gully erosion. This is a structural practice which includes erosion control dams, drop structures and other measures designed to control the flow of water and stop erosion.

Items Covered:

• Earth Moved – Excavation
• Earth Fill – Class A compaction
• Earth Fill – Class C compaction
• Seed (critical area)
• Common
• Certified
• Fencing
• Other construction items
• Mulching

 Must be planned and installed in accordance with technical specifications of the NRCS.

Cost-Share: 60% of the average cost or actual cost whichever is less to the landowner, up to $10,000 in a 2-year period 

Purpose: To divert water from areas where it is in excess to sites where it can be used or disposed of safely.

Items Covered:

• Earth Moved
• Seed (critical area)
• Common
• Certified
• Seeding
• Standard Drill
• Grassland Drill
• Other construction items

Must be planned and installed in accordance with technical specifications of the NRCS.

Cost-Share: 60% of the average cost or actual cost whichever is less to the landowner, up to $10,000 in a 2-year period 

Purpose: To shape natural or constructed waterways to required dimensions and vegetate for safe disposal of runoff from a field, diversion, terraces or other structures by carrying runoff from the owner’s property to a natural water course

Items Covered:

• 10 – 19.19 cross-section, earth moved, square feet
• 20 – 29.19 cross-section, earth moved, square feet
• 30 – 39.19 cross-section, earth moved, square feet
• 40 – 49.19 cross-section, earth moved, square feet
• 50+ cross-section, earth moved, square feet
• Seed (critical area)
• Common
• Certified
• Seeding
• Standard Drill
• Grassland Drill
• Mulching
• Side Dikes

Must be planned and installed in accordance with technical specifications of the NRCS.

Cost-Share: 60% of the average cost or actual cost whichever is less to the landowner, up to $10,000 in a 2-year period

Purpose: To reduce on-site erosion, reduce sediment, reduce sediment content in water, intercept and conduct surface runoff through subsurface conduits to stable outlets, reduce peak rate or volume of flow at downslope locations, reduce flooding, prevent gully development, reform the land surface, and improve farabililty.

Items Covered:

• Excavation
• Earth Fill – Class A compaction (moisture controlled)
• Earth Fill – Class C compaction
• Seed (critical area)
• Common
• Certified
• Other construction items
• Mulching

Must be planned and installed in accordance with technical specifications of the NRCS.

Cost-Share: 60% of the average cost or actual cost whichever is less to the landowner, up to $10,000 in a 2-year period

Purpose: To create an impoundment for livestock water use by excavating to collect runoff in grassland

Items Covered:

• Earth Moved – Excavation
• Seed (critical area)
• Common
• Certified
• Seeding
• Standard Drill
• Grassland Drill
• Fencing

Must be planned and installed in accordance with technical specifications of the NRCS.

Cost-Share: 60% of the average cost or actual cost whichever is less to the landowner, up to $10,000 in a 2-year period 

Purpose: To establish grass on land being converted from other uses or the renovation of existing pasture or range.

Items Covered:

• Seed (critical area)
• Common
• Certified
• Seeding
• Standard Drill
• Grassland Drill
• Range Interseeder
• Chemicals for seedbed preparation when seeding in existing cover.

Must be planned and installed in accordance with technical specifications of the NRCS.

Cost-Share: 60% of the average cost or actual cost whichever is less to the landowner, up to $10,000 in a 2-year period 

Purpose: To stabilize the soil, reduce damage from sediment and runoff to downstream areas

Items Covered:

• Seed (critical area)
• Common
• Certified
• Seeding
• Standard Drill
• Grassland Drill
• Hydro-seeder
• Mulching
• Fencing
• Shaping and Filling

Must be planned and installed in accordance with technical specifications of the NRCS.

Cost-Share: 60% of the average cost or actual cost whichever is less to the landowner, up to $10,000 in a 2-year period

Purpose: To establish a stand of trees to conserve soil and moisture and to prevent erosion, new or replacement

Items Covered:

1. Trees, including planting and chemical weed control the first year.
2. Trees, including planting
3. Chemical Weed Control, first year
4. Trees, including replanting
5. Drip Irrigation System, all appurtenances beginning with in-line screen and pressure regulator
6. Fencing, where necessary to provide protection from livestock
7. Rodent Control
8. Pocket Gophers
9. Hand Probe
10. Hand Poisoning

iii. Burrow Builder

1. Fabric Weed Barrier

• Not to be used in conjunction with C or E above
• Cost-share will be available for weed barrier or drip irrigation, only when 100 trees or 50 trees per renovation, where planted by the NRD.
• Producers must plant 100 (minimum) trees to receive cost-share monies.

Must be planned and installed in accordance with technical specifications of the NRCS.

Payments for the trees, must be paid up front and 75% of the weed barrier.

Cost-Share: 60% of the average cost or actual cost whichever is less to the landowner, up to $10,000 in a 2-year period

Purpose: To reduce erosion and improve water quality by maintaining or improving plant cover for increase forage production, enhanced wildlife habitat, grazing uniformity and water use efficiency

Items Covered:

• Cross Fencing
• Standard
• Suspension
• Electric
• Perimeter Fencing (Restricted to: (a) lands remaining in grass for pasture within two years of completing enrollment in a Federal Conservation Program; or (b) cropland converted to grassland for pasture.)
• Water Supply
• Well
• Drilling and Casing Installation
• Cost of Casing
• Cost of Gravel Packing
• Pipeline Installed
• Tank Installed
• Spring Development
• Livestock Water Dugouts, high water table
• Earth Moved, excavation
• Seed (critical area)
• Common
• Certified
• Mulching
• Pumping Plants
• Electrical
• Solar
• Windmill
• Rodent Control
• Pocket Gophers
• Hand Probe
• Hand Poisoning
• Burrow Builder
• Prairie Dogs
• Zink Phosphide/Aluminum Phosphide

Must be planned and installed in accordance with technical specifications of the NRCS.

Application Process: Applications will be accepted year-round.

• Under planned grazing system, allows cost-share for perimeter fencing of land currently enrolled in CRP that has contracts expiring.
• On Planned Grazing Systems, the District will not pay for simply constructing a livestock well. The application must include a written rotational grazing and/or cross fencing plan.
• Follow the NRCS definition for rotational grazing. Little Blue NRD will pay for the well if they follow the rotation grazing rules.
• Follow the EQIP rules on the well
• A new pump can be installed in an old well.

Cost-Share: 60% of the average cost or actual cost whichever is less to the landowner, up to $10,000 in a 2-year period

Purpose: To provide for the restoration of farmstead or field windbreaks that have been rendered substantially ineffective due to the death of trees or other windbreak plantings due to weather, disease, or other natural causes.

Procedures: The windbreak renovation plan is to be based on a plan reviewed and approved by a forester of the         Nebraska Forest Service. The forester is to certify that the windbreak has lost its effectiveness, should be renovated and that they approve the renovation plan. Costs are to be based on average unit costs, where they exist.

Additional Limitations:

• In no instance will payment from the Soil & Water Conservation Fund be based on a cost greater than the state-wide average unit cost adopted by the USDA-FSA this practice.
• This practice does not include replanting the windbreak. Those costs could be eligible for cost-share under Practice NC-12. Otherwise, windbreak replanting costs be paid from other sources.
• No approval for a windbreak practice will be made by an NRD unless and until the landowner also agrees to replant the windbreak, and no payment for a windbreak renovation practice will be made from the Soil & Water Conservation Fund until the windbreak has been replanted.
• Must be planned and installed in accordance with the technical specifications of the NRCS.
• Windbreak Renovation (only): if the landowner is doing a Renovation, the LBNRD will cost-share on less than 100 trees but no less than 50.

Cost-Share: 60% of the average cost or actual cost, whichever is less to the landowner, up to $10,000 in a 2-year period

Purpose: Cost-Share under the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Program is authorized for the repair of the following practices or practice elements when the damage to the practice is due to natural causes rather than improper or inadequate maintenance; terraces, dams, diversions, grade stabilization structures, and livestock water supply pipelines. Any repair work must return the practice to a condition that meets technical specifications of the Natural Resources        Conservation Service.

Items Covered:
–Listed under the eligible practice being repaired

• Must be planned and installed in accordance with technical specifications of the NRCS.

Cost-Share: 60% of the average cost or actual cost whichever is less to the landowner, up to $10,000 in a 2-year period

Purpose: To promote groundwater conservation, improve water application uniformity and save energy

Items Covered:

• Maximum of 1400 feet of buried pipeline.
• Cost-share is not allowed for cost of electrical installation and equipment.
• Land eligible for this practice must have been irrigated four of the last five years.
• Applications for LB 21A Buried Pipe (well to pivot point) and the New Well Incentive LB 21B are prohibited on land of which 10% or more of the field to be irrigated by the center pivot is Highly Erodible Ground, was sod busted in the last 5 years or is being converted from pasture or grassland to cropland.
• When funds have been allocated for a fiscal year, no other contracts can be approved until possible slippage is available. Funding for this practice will be under the Little Blue Soil and Water Conservation Program, only.
• No less than 10 acres may be developed under this cost-share practice
• No more than 10% of land under pivot system is to be newly irrigated land.
• This covers the labor and trenching costs which are built into the cost of the pipe.

Required component: LBNRD approved irrigation flow meter with annual reporting to the District, with meter     maintenance at cost of parts available to landowner from the LBNRD. 

• Must be planned and installed in accordance with technical specifications of the NRCS.
• Surface water cannot be the source of water for the irrigation.

New Well Incentive:

• As an alternative to “A”, the producer may opt to apply the cost-share which would have been received under the practice, toward construction of a new well at the pivot point.
• The new well must be within 1,400 feet of the old well
• Cost-share = (Distance from the old well to the new pivot point (most direct line)) × (district’s average cost per foot for buried 8” pipeline) × (50%)

Cost-Share: 50% of the average cost or actual cost whichever is less to the landowner, up to $10,000 per tract, in a 2-year period. 

Process: This program is intended to introduce landowner to, and provide cost assistance for, the purchase of soil moisture sensing equipment to assist in irrigation scheduling and water management.  This program is designed for the protection of the groundwater by reducing overwatering and decreasing the potential for nitrogen leaching. 

Equipment includes:  

• Watermark soil moisture sensors
• Hand-held meters
• Data-loggers and ET gages
• The equipment will be assembled and tested at the Little Blue NRD office in Davenport.

Requirements:  Applications will be taken on first-come basis and equipment dispensed as cost-share money allows. Priority will be given to first-year cooperators.

Application Process: The Sale of the watermark sensor equipment is made available to the farmer through the NRD at ½ price. First-year cooperators will be eligible to have the equipment installed by NRD staff or representatives to assure proper installation and training is provided.

Cost-Share: Equipment will be made available at a 50% discount of total costs up to $600 for any operator within the Little Blue NRD

Process: This program is intended to introduce landowners to, and provide cost assistance for, the purchase or rental of capacitance soil moisture probes and the remote connection to assist in irrigation management.  This program is designed for the protection of the groundwater by reducing overwatering and decreasing the potential for nitrogen leaching.

Eligible Areas: Operators in the Little Blue NRD District are eligible for a one-time purchase or rental of capacitance soil moisture probes through this program.

Equipment includes:  

• The capacitance soil moisture probes with remote readers (telemetry included).
• Equipment will be obtained by producers with NRD staff reviewing for approval.
• There is an approved list of vendors for the capacitance soil moisture probes
• There is no limit on how many sensors can be bought, but only one-application per operator and still capped at $1,000.

 Cost-Share: 50% up to $1,000 of the equipment costs. One time use.

Process: This policy is for adapting an existing flow meter installation to provide totalizer and/or flow data to a remote location.

Eligible Components:  

• the labor and equipment to connect pulse ready meters
• conversion of mechanical meters to pulse generation, cables, connections, communication software, and data plans.
• The meter must be on the District’s list of approved meters, all were verified to have remote reading capability when they were reviewed.

Cost-Share: 50% of the total cost up to $1,000