The Natural Resources Water Quality Fund (NRWQF) was created in 2001 to provide state funds to Natural Resources Districts for their Water Quality Programs. The Fund receives monies from the receipt of portions of certain fees levied by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture for pesticide registration and applicator licenses. By statute, these funds can only be used by NRDs and only for water quality programs. Use of the fund for a wide variety of water quality related measures, both for surface water and ground water, is permitted. NRDs are required to provide three dollars match for each two dollars of state funds received. The Department of Natural Resources rules and regulations govern administration of the NRWQF.
Soil Testing
The ULNRD will provide cost share funds for deep soil testing to landowners in the district. Funds are available to cover 70¢ per field acre up to $400 per landowner. The purpose of this cost-share program is to encourage producers to manage fertilizer application better by accounting for available nitrate-nitrogen that already exists in the soil root zone and irrigation water. Concern about unnecessary over-application of nitrogen fertilizer that could leach out of the root zone and contaminate groundwater supplies makes the practice desirable. Cooperators are asked to line up professional consultants to do the testing and furnish copies of their results and billing to receive reimbursement. Applications can be obtained by phone request, stopping at the Thedford office or online through the following link:
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