ORD, Nebraska -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced that financial assistance is available for conservation projects within the Lower Loup Natural Resources District.

These funds are made available through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The project “Irrigation and Nutrient Management in lower Loup River Basin” is being funded through a partnership with the Lower Loup Natural Resources District and University of Nebraska Extension.

This project provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to adopt water quality and quantity conservation practices such as the conversion of gravity irrigation systems to center pivot irrigation.

The project is designed to help agricultural producers improve nutrient management and irrigation system efficiency. Producers farming within the Lower Loup Natural Resources District boundary are eligible to receive financial assistance under this project.

An Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) waiver has been approved for this project. This eliminates the requirement for producers to meet the AGI limitation requirements to participate in the program.

The RCPP promotes coordination between NRCS and its partners to deliver conservation assistance to producers and landowners. Interested landowners and agricultural producers are encouraged to contact their local USDA service center for more information and to apply.

The deadline to apply for 2025 RCPP funding is Friday, May 30, 2025. 

Lower Loup NRD General Manager Russell Callan, right, and NRCS State Conservationist Robert Lawson sign the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) agreement between NRCS and the Lower Loup NRD.