LENRD board approves funding to repair Wakefield levee

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) held their board meeting in the Niobrara Room at Wayne State College on Thursday, February 27th at 7:30 p.m.

The City of Wakefield requested financial assistance from the district to help fund the cost of repairs to their flood control levee which sustained significant damages during the March 2019 flood.

LENRD Projects Manager, Curt Becker, reported that the city’s request is 50% of the local costs to repair the levee.  He added, “Wakefield was not able to get fully funded for this project through the Corps of Engineers or through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, so they’re requesting our assistance on the local level.”

The City of Wakefield paid the Corps about $780,000 for its share of the cost of the repairs, which is approximately 20% of the total cost of the project.  The board voted to cost-share with Wakefield on the project for up to $390,000.

In other action, the board voted unanimously to approve the next phase of development for the district’s hydrogeologic groundwater model.  The LENRD was awarded a grant from the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NDNR) Water Sustainability Fund (WSF) to assist with 60% of the expenses associated with Phase 2B of development, which is a continuation of Phase 2A and is the final phase of the hydrogeologic groundwater model.

LENRD Assistant Manager, Brian Bruckner, said, “The purpose of the next phase is to create the graphic user interface that will allow us to calculate different scenarios and ultimately see and evaluate the impacts that new water uses have on existing water users.  The model will give us the science-based tools we need to understand the resource and make better management decisions for the future of our district.”

The board has accepted an agreement with JEO Consulting Group for Phase 2B of the Groundwater Model for a total not to exceed $336,000.

The LENRD board & staff meet each month to develop and implement management plans to protect our natural resources for the future.  The next LENRD board meeting will be Thursday, March 26th at 7:30 p.m. at the LENRD office at 1508 Square Turn Boulevard in Norfolk.  Stay connected with the LENRD by subscribing to their monthly emails.

Local Working Group meeting planned for March 12th

Local meetings open to individuals interested in setting natural resources goals for Nebraska:

A Local Working Group that provides advice on the priorities for many U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs will meet March 12, 2020 at 5:30 PM at the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District office in Norfolk.

The public is encouraged to attend and express their natural resource concerns.  Ideas generated from the public will help the U.S. Department of Agriculture tailor their natural resource programs to meet the needs identified locally. 

There is a Local Working Group in each Natural Resources District (NRD).  Membership on the Local Working Group includes Federal, State, county, Tribal or local government representatives according to Robin Sutherland District Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) whose agency guides the Local Working Group. 

“The Local Working Group recommends to the NRCS State Conservationist how conservation programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), or Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) would be used most effectively in their area.  This recommendation can include special target areas, cost share rates on conservation programs, which conservation practices should have cost assistance, or how many dollars could be needed,” said Robin Sutherland.  This work group allows local input into how Federal dollars are spent, she said.

Typically Nebraska NRCS obligates anywhere between $45 million to over $75 million dollars to farmers and ranchers statewide through NRCS conservation programs.  These programs helped landowners and operators make natural resource improvements to their land, water, or wildlife.  This funding was allocated according to the priorities set by the Local Working Group.

For more information about the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the programs and services they provide, visit your local USDA Service Center or www.ne.nrcs.usda.gov

The No-till, Cover Crop, and Planned Grazing Workshop is Feb. 12th

Join us for the Bazile Groundwater Management Area - No-till, Cover Crops, & Planned Grazing Systems Workshop. The meeting will be held at the Lifelong Learning Center on the campus of Northeast Community College in Norfolk on Wednesday, February 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Click below to see the full agenda. RSVP for the meal to the LENRD or your local NRCS office by February 4th. See you at the workshop!

Conservation efforts recognized at Lower Elkhorn NRD Awards Banquet

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) board honored outstanding conservationists at their annual awards banquet on Thursday, January 9th, 2020.  The event was held at the Stables Event Center in Norfolk.

Outstanding Partnership Award – Steve Rasmussen of Wayne

LENRD Board Chairman, Gary Loftis of Craig, presented the partnership award.  Loftis said, “The District works with various agencies and partners each year as we strive to improve the quality of life for the citizens across Northeast Nebraska.  The Outstanding Partnership Award recognizes excellence in community outreach efforts that highlight our mission of protecting our natural resources for future generations.”

Loftis said, “We want to recognize Steve Rasmussen of Wayne, District Forester with the Nebraska Forest Service, for his outstanding partnership with us, in promoting our projects and programs across our 15-county district.”

For the past 37 years, Steve has held a strong partnership with the NRDs across the state.  He started with the Nebraska Forest Service in 1982 working as the NFS Forester and the NRD Forester for the Lower Loup NRD in Ord.

In 1984, he became the Nebraska Forest Service – Northeast District / Extension Forester at Concord.  In 2007 he became the Coordinator for the four-state Great Plains Forestry Initiative until 2010.  He then returned to the Nebraska Forest Service as the Northeast District Forester from 2010 to the present.  He has also been a member of the Society of American Foresters for 30 years.

Steve’s work involves providing professional forestry assistance to 15 counties in 5 NRDs across northeast Nebraska.  He works primarily with the design and management of conservation tree plantings as well as riparian forest and woodland management.  He also deals with the marketing and utilization of wood resources.  Educating our youth and the public about the importance and care of trees is also a large part of Steve’s work.  He has partnered with the NRDs to bring education programs to the schools and communities across 5 districts.  He continues to promote our programs to community leaders and presents Arbor Day and other tree celebration programming.  Working with communities with tree resources and tree planting grants is also a highlight of Steve’s career.  Promoting and assisting with local arboretums and overall technical assistance to tree owners on the care and management of trees takes much time and effort.

Loftis added, “Steve has always been a strong supporter of the NRDs and our mission.  He has worked side by side with us to inform the public of our programs and to assist in tree planting projects across the area.  In the aftermath of the 2019 flood, Steve assisted with many calls and visits to producers across our district.  We appreciate Steve’s support of our projects and his willingness to jump in and assist us.  Thank you, Steve, for your partnership in protecting our natural resources for future generations.”

Sustainable Agriculture Award – Dan & Melinda Stelling & Family

The Lower Elkhorn NRD’s Conservation Honor Farm awards were first presented in 1973.  The winners are selected for their demonstrated excellence in soil & water conservation.  Dan & Melinda Stelling & Family of Pierce were honored at the banquet for their outstanding conservation work as the 2019 Sustainable Agriculture Award winners.

Dan Gillespie, NRCS No-till Specialist for Madison County, nominated the Dan Stelling Family for this award.  Gillespie said, “Over the past 40 years, Dan Stelling has utilized innovative techniques to conserve soil and water in his farming practices.  Dan describes his journey in conservation and regenerative agriculture as a series of steps taken that culminated in the systems he now operates on his farms.”

Dan’s first step was starting to no-till all crops in 2004.  He gives no-till the credit for starting his transition to regenerative agriculture on his farms.  The no-till stopped soil erosion from water and wind on his Valentine sands and reduced evaporative losses from the cropland.

Step two came in 2006 when Dan flew cereal rye on his soybean ground as a participant in the LENRD Cover Crop Incentive Program.  He grazed the cereal rye cover crops in the spring with the cow calf herd, then would remove the cows and plant the corn right away, terminating the rye a week or two afterwards.  After a few years of trials, they have been planting green since 2009.  Planting green allows the cover crop to grow more biomass in the soil and allows for a friendly soil biological environment for the newly germinated seedlings.

In 2019, Dan diversified his crop rotation to include small grains on one quarter.  After planting cereal rye as a cover crop in soybean stubble and terminating it, he planted half the quarter to oats and peas that were later harvested as hay.  He followed that with a mix of BMR Sorghum, mung beans, guar, buckwheat and black oil sunflowers.  Dan will utilize that half quarter for winter grazing for the cow herd.  The other half quarter was planted to a grazing corn, cowpeas, forage soybeans, and sunflower mix, and was chopped for silage.  The field was then planted to a mix of grazing popcorn, spring peas, spring oats, cereal rye, forage collards, purple top turnips, and radishes.  That mix will be grazed in the spring with cow calf pairs.  The implementation of small grains into their crop rotation has enabled them to plant multi-species cover crops that provide quality forage for their cowherd to graze, while providing opportunities to take pressure off pastures.

Dan farms two quarters in the Bazile Groundwater Management Area and has plans to implement cover crops on them next year.  The implementation of continuous no-till with cover crops will keep soil out of the creek and nitrates out of the groundwater.  Planting cover crops also sequesters nutrients unused by the cash grain crops, making them available to the next cash crop.

Gillespie added, “Dan and Melinda have been leaders ‘in the field’ by adopting soil health practices and implementing regenerative agriculture systems.  The diverse crop rotations and diversified ag enterprises they enlist on their farms are modeling the way to reduce expenses and increase profitability.  The time savings that no-till farming provides also allows them to be active in their community.  Dan and Melinda are Huddle Group Leaders for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Pierce High School.  Congratulations to the Stelling family as the recipients of the 2019 Sustainable Agriculture Award.”

Staff Awards

Staff awards were also presented during the banquet by Chairman Loftis, and General Manager, Mike Sousek.

Char Newkirk of Stanton – Conservation Aide in the Stanton County NRCS office – 20 years of service

Valissa Tegeler of Battle Creek – Programs Assistant in the Madison County NRCS office – 20 years of service

Danny Johnson of Decatur –  Logan East Rural Water System Technician in the Oakland office – Danny recently retired after 25 years of service.

Julie Wragge of Pierce – Information & Education Specialist in the Norfolk office - 25 years of service

Vickie DeJong of Pierce – Administrative Supervisor in the Norfolk office – 40 years of service

Request for Qualifications to repair streambank stabilization project on the Elkhorn River near Scribner

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) is seeking a qualified engineering firm to guide us as we repair damages suffered from the March 2019 flood event. The repairs consist primarily of streambank erosion on the Elkhorn River near Scribner, NE. The LENRD needs to hire an engineer to provide the necessary engineering services required by FEMA to repair the project.

If your firm is interested, has the qualified staff to take on the work immediately, and feels they know our District needs, please submit your qualifications to the LENRD. One hard copy and an electronic copy of your qualifications/proposals must be submitted to:  Lower Elkhorn NRD, C/O Curt Becker, 1508 Square Turn Boulevard - Norfolk, NE 68701 by the end of business day on January 31st, 2020.

Submittal Requirements & Scope of Work can be found by clicking the button below, or by contacting the LENRD. Questions regarding the RFQ can be addressed to the LENRD Projects Manager, Curt Becker, at 402-371-7313 or cbecker@lenrd.org

LENRD supports Watershed Dynamics Program with Norfolk High School

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) recently awarded Norfolk Public Schools with a grant to get their Watershed Dynamics Program started. The science and agriculture departments at Norfolk High are teaming up to partner with the City of Norfolk and the LENRD to collect data and analyze the water quality of the Elkhorn River.

Jonathan Anderson, FFA Advisor with Norfolk Public Schools, presented his proposal to the LENRD Board of Directors at their December board meeting. The group put together a list of equipment needs to get the project up and running.  Anderson also presented some of their ideas for the future.  The board voted to award $1,756 to the school for their equipment needs.

The Watershed Team will focus on three locations on the North Fork of the Elkhorn River and will collect samples at different times of the year to help with analysis.  LENRD Information & Education Specialist, Julie Wragge, said, “The data will be important as the district works closely with the city in the development of the Riverfront Project that will promote further recreation opportunities for the Norfolk Area.”

Order your tree and shrub seedlings from the Lower Elkhorn NRD

Landowners who incorporate trees and windbreaks into their landscape increase agricultural productivity, protect soil and water, and enhance environments for people and wildlife.  Have you considered updating your windbreak or planting a new one?

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) has 40 varieties of trees and shrubs available through their Conservation Tree Program.  The trees and shrubs will be 1-2 year old, bare-root seedlings that will average in height from 10-18 inches tall.  The cost for a bundle of 25 seedlings is $22 plus tax.  This year a “Small Acreage Package” is also available with 5 different species included.

“This is an affordable way to start a windbreak, provide wildlife habitat, or even start a privacy hedge made of shrubs,” said Natural Resources Technician, Todd Stewart.  “We offer evergreens, hardwood or deciduous trees, and shrubs which together make an efficient windbreak for your homestead or for livestock protection.”

Technical assistance on designing your windbreak or tree planting is available from the LENRD or your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office.   Landowners may also want to inquire about the LENRD’s Agroforestry Cost Share Program or Windbreak Renovation Program.

“Trees and windbreaks provide many benefits,” Stewart added.  “They can increase your property value, reduce soil erosion, and attract wildlife.  Order your trees today, and they’ll be available for pickup in April.”

The LENRD also provides a tree planting service for seedlings purchased through the program.  The minimum charge for this service is $275 and a tree and shrub planting plan must be developed by LENRD staff or through your local NRCS office.

Tree order forms are available at the LENRD office in Norfolk, at your local NRCS office, or online at: 

For more information contact the LENRD at 402.371.7313 or your local NRCS office.

NDEE offers rebates for diesel irrigation engine replacements

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy is offering rebates for Nebraska residents to replace diesel trucks and ag irrigation pump diesel engines. Applications must be submitted by Jan. 17, 2020. Read more: https://tinyurl.com/y3kndpnq

LENRD Board approves applications for new irrigated acres

Earlier this fall, landowners within the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) boundaries, had an opportunity to submit applications to expand irrigated acres.

LENRD Assistant Manager, Brian Bruckner, said, “The board voted to accept applications for standard variances in some portions of the District.  We received 123 applications for new irrigated acres during the sign-up period, which was open from October 1st through October 31st, 2019.”  Eligible applications were processed using the District’s scoring and ranking process, which integrates several categories that are each assigned different score values within the subcategory.  Each eligible application was given a total score, and subsequently the applications were ranked from highest to lowest score.

The board voted at their December 2nd meeting to allow up to 292.24 acre-feet of new peak season streamflow depletions in the LENRD’s Hydrologically Connected (10/50 Area), which calculates to 2,795 new irrigated acres.  The board also voted to allow for the development of 2509.92 new irrigated acres in the LENRD’s Non-Hydrologically Connected (Non 10/50 Area).  These approvals were determined from the final rankings as provided by District staff, and a cut-off was established to determine the number of acre-feet of new depletions, and the number of new irrigated acres that would be made available for each respective management area.

Bruckner continued, “Staff will now go through the process of contacting the landowners in writing, for both approved and non-approved applications.”  After the landowners have been properly notified, the approved list will be made available by submitting a request for public records to the District.

In other action, the board approved the annual groundwater allocations for the Quantity Management Subareas subject to allocations for the 2020 growing season.  Bruckner, said, “Each year, the board must determine the annual groundwater allocation amounts for the Wayne and Eastern Madison County Quantity Management Subareas for the upcoming crop year.”  The board voted to establish the 2020 allocation amounts at:  18 acre-inches per irrigated acre for gravity/flood irrigation systems, 13 acre-inches per irrigated acre for subsurface drip irrigation systems, and 14 acre-inches per irrigated acre for all other irrigation systems in the Eastern Madison County Quantity Subarea, and 17 acre-inches per irrigated acre for gravity/flood irrigation systems, 12 acre-inches per irrigated acre for subsurface drip irrigation systems, and 13 acre-inches per irrigated acre for all other irrigation systems in the Wayne County Quantity Subarea.  These groundwater allocation amounts have remained unchanged since first being imposed for the 2013 pumping season.

In other business, the board approved 5 Community Forestry Incentive applications for a total cost of $13,719.69.  The communities receiving grants this year include:  the City of Norfolk, Norfolk Public Schools, the Village of Pilger, the City of Wakefield, and the City of West Point.

The board also voted to approve the memorandum of agreement between the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the LENRD.  LENRD General Manager, Mike Sousek, said, “The NRCS and LENRD share a rich history of collaborating to deliver comprehensive technical and financial assistance to landowners and other entities to protect, restore, and enhance natural resources.  This agreement reinforces the partnership between both agencies and will be in effect until mutually modified or terminated.”

The LENRD board & staff meet each month to develop and implement management plans for the future of our natural resources.  The next LENRD board meeting will be Thursday, December 19th at 7:30 p.m. at the LENRD office at 1508 Square Turn Boulevard in Norfolk.  Stay connected with the LENRD by subscribing to their monthly emails.

Draft Hazard Mitigation Plan available for public review

In November 2018, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) began the process of updating the hazard mitigation plan. One of the benefits of completing this plan update as required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is that participating communities within the district will remain eligible for mitigation grant programs. This plan examines regional and local vulnerabilities to a range of hazards (i.e. flooding, severe winter storms, drought, etc.) and identifies strategies and projects that can be implemented to reduce risk posed by these phenomena. Throughout the planning process, officials and staff from the LENRD, counties, communities, and school districts have provided insights regarding vulnerabilities, completed projects that have increased local resilience, and future opportunities to further reduce risk.

A draft of the plan has been completed and is available on the project website (https://jeo.com/lenrd-hmp) for public review. We encourage community members to review the plan, provide comments, and ask any questions they may have during the official comment period. The public review period will end on December 27th. Please submit comments and questions to Karl Dietrich via email at kdietrich@jeo.com. 

Funding approved for watershed projects across Nebraska

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that four Natural Resources Districts received over $2.5 million in Watershed Flood Prevention and Operations funding. This funding will be directed towards developing watershed plans in the following NRDs: 

• The Lower Platte South NRD received funding to complete the Little Salt Creek Watershed Plan in northern Lancaster County. This plan will help improve habitat for the endangered Salt Tiger Beetle by protecting saline wetland habitat, providing wetland rehabilitation, and erosion and sediment control.

• The Lower Elkhorn NRD received funding to complete the Battle Creek Watershed Plan. This plan aims to reduce the overall flood risk potential in the area as well as provide flood resiliency for surrounding agricultural land.

• The Central Platte NRD received funding to complete the Spring and Buffalo Creek Watershed Plan. This effort is focused on reducing flood damages to irrigation canal infrastructure and agricultural land. Goals include identifying solutions to reoccurring flooding issues, soil erosion, and evaluate multi-beneficial projects which can benefit endangered and threatened species within and downstream of the watershed.

• The Central Platte NRD also received funding to complete the Lower Wood River Watershed Plan. The goal is to establish a recommended plan to address ongoing flooding events. This includes implementing structural and non-structural projects to create resiliency against future flooding, reduce flood related damages, and protect the local economy.

• The Lower Loup NRD received funding to complete the Mud Creek Watershed Plan. This plan will focus on reducing flood related damages to communities and agricultural land, improve flood resiliency, improve recreation opportunities and enhance groundwater recharge.

Nebraska State Conservationist Craig Derickson said, “We look forward to working with these Natural Resources Districts on these new watershed projects. We saw how established watershed projects sprang into action this past spring following the bomb cyclone reducing flood damages and protecting natural resources. These new projects plan to provide more benefits to more areas across Nebraska.”

Harvesting Crop Residue: What's it worth?

Harvesting crop residue has increased in recent years and demand is likely to increase. Decisions about how much crop residue can be harvested sustainably are based on the following:

• Soil nutrient availability

• Soil organic matter

• Water erosion and runoff

• Wind erosion

• Soil water availability

• Yields and economics

For more information, visit your local NRCS office or click on the link below:

Harvesting Corn Stover

Possible solution for nitrate pollution moving from lab to field

LENRD Board moves forward with pedestrian trail repairs at Pierce

The development and management of recreational and park facilities is one of the 12 responsibilities of the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD).

At their October meeting, the LENRD Board voted to develop a contract with Rutjens Construction of Tilden to repair the pedestrian trail between the Willow Creek State Recreation Area (SRA) and the City of Pierce for $17,675.00.  The trail was significantly damaged as a result of the flooding that occurred last spring.

The board also approved the increase in camping fees at its recreational areas in northeast Nebraska.  The camping fees will increase to $25.00 per electric pad and $10.00 per tent, effective January 1, 2020.

LENRD Recreation Area Superintendent, Leonard Boryca, said, “The camping fees at the State Recreation Areas across the State have increased.  Therefore, the board decided to keep our rates at a similar pace.”  He added, “The LENRD owns the Willow Creek SRA, which is managed by the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, and their rates increased last year, so this will make the fees the same amount district-wide for electric and tent camping.”  The LENRD owns and manages the Maskenthine Lake Recreation Area near Stanton, and the Maple Creek Recreation Area near Leigh.

Another of the LENRD’s responsibilities is the development, management, utilization, and conservation of groundwater and surface water.  The district continues to be proactive in the management of the resource.  In the Phase 2 and 3 Management Areas the district requires annual reports from producers for record keeping purposes.  There are 4 producers who have yet to submit their annual reports for this year and those producers will receive a cease and desist order as directed by the LENRD Board at their October meeting.

The board also instructed staff to contract with Derek Becker of Norfolk for meter maintenance on mechanical flow meters in Pierce County.

The LENRD board & staff meet each month to develop and implement management plans for the future of our natural resources.  The next LENRD board meeting will be Tuesday, November 26th at 7:30 p.m. at the LENRD office at 1508 Square Turn Boulevard in Norfolk.  Stay connected with the LENRD by subscribing to their monthly emails.

Application deadline is October 31st for new irrigated acres

Landowners within the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) boundaries, have an opportunity to apply for new irrigated acres in some portions of the District.

The LENRD board voted, at their August meeting, to allow up to 450 acre-feet of new depletions, in accordance with their Voluntary Integrated Management Plan for irrigation development in the Hydrologically Connected or 10/50 Area, and to allow up to 2,500 acres of new groundwater irrigation development in the Non-Hydrologically Connected or Non 10/50 Area under the district’s standard variance process.  An approved variance is a requirement for any expansion of irrigated acres in the LENRD, whether from an existing or new irrigation well.

Geographic portions of the district that are eligible to be considered for standard variances are areas that fall within the top three categories of the classification map.

Excluded from consideration for this sign-up period will be any parcel of land located in any Quantity Management Subarea or Phase 3 Area located within the LENRD.

The board established a sign-up period to receive applications for Standard Variances from October 1st, 2019 through October 31st, 2019.

Map - Irrigation Development Areas

Standard Variance Application Form 

Buffer Strips are a common sense approach to land conservation

The Nebraska Buffer Strip Program is administered from fees assessed on registered pesticides. Cropland adjacent to perennial and seasonal streams, ponds, and wetlands can be enrolled in buffer strips, which are designed to filter agrichemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides. Two kinds of buffer strips are eligible - filter strips, which are narrow strips of grass; and riparian forest buffer strips containing trees and grass. The minimum widths are 20 and 55 feet, respectively; the maximum widths are 120 and 180 feet, respectively.
The program is designed to be used in conjunction with the USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), or other programs, however it can be used by itself, as well. Rental rates are calculated as follows:

• For irrigated cropland where CRP, CREP, or other governmentally-funded programs are also used, rental rates are $250 per acre minus payments from the other programs.

• For irrigated cropland where CRP, CREP, or other governmentally-funded programs are not used, the rental rate is $225 per acre minus any other program payments.

• For non-irrigated cropland enrolled in CRP, CREP or other governmentally-funded programs, the rental rate is equal to 20% of the average CRP soil rental rate.

• For non-irrigated cropland without CRP, CREP, or other governmentally-funded programs, the rental rate per acre is equal to 120% of the average CRP soil rental rate plus $5 per acre, minus the payment rate from any other programs.

• In no case may payments from all programs exceed $250 per acre.

Interested landowners should contact their local Natural Resources District or USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service office to begin the application process.

West Point High School takes first place at the Northeast Area FFA Land Judging Contest near Leigh

The Northeast Area FFA Land Judging Contest was held Tuesday, October 8th near Leigh. 436 students from 24 high schools registered that morning at the Colfax County Fairgrounds in Leigh before traveling to the testing site.  The contest was held on ground owned by Terry Kudera, six miles north of Leigh on Hwy 57 and 2 west.

A team from West Point High School finished first with the top score of 977 points.  Team members are:  Evie Schlickbernd, Paige Rolf, Emmie Dvorak, and Aspen Lund.

A team from Pender High School placed second with a score of 970.  Third place went to North Bend with a score of 929 points.  Teams from North Bend and West Point came in 4th and 5th.  The top 6 teams that will participate in the State competition are from West Point, Pender, North Bend, Blair, Logan View, and Wisner-Pilger.  The State Land Judging competition will take place in the Tecumseh area on October 23rd.

The top individual award went to Paige Rolf of West Point with a total score of 361.  Katelyn Smith of Logan View was second, Dalton Blaha of North Bend was third, Hannah Murray of North Bend was fourth, and Charles Schmedding of Pender came in fifth.

The site provided good diversity in soils and landscape positions for the students.  The contest helps the students make informed decisions regarding soil utilization in the future.  Scoring was completed the following day at the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) office in Norfolk.

The high schools participating were:  Allen, Blair, Elkhorn Valley-Tilden, Emerson-Hubbard, Howells-Dodge, Humphrey, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge, Clarkson-Leigh, Logan View, Lyons-Decatur Northeast, Newman Grove, Norfolk, North Bend, Oakland-Craig, Osmond, Pender, Pierce, Randolph, Scribner-Snyder, Stanton, Tekamah-Herman, Wayne, West Point-Beemer, and Wisner-Pilger.

The LENRD, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Leigh High School, and the Nebraska FFA Land Judging Committee organized and sponsored the contest.

LENRD requests proposals for flow meter maintenance

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to provide inspection and preventative maintenance services for all propeller-driven, analog display irrigation well flow meters (Propeller Meters) installed in the District. This project includes the provision of all labor, equipment and expertise to perform preventative maintenance services for an estimated 880 flow meters located within the District by April 15, 2020.

These inspection and preventative maintenance services include, but are not limited to: a physical examination and evaluation of proper flow meter installation and operation; removal of the flow meter to evaluate the condition of the propeller and bearings; reinstallation of the meter after greasing its bearings and replacing the saddle gasket; documentation of all inspection; maintenance findings and activities through photos and reports in a format provided by the LENRD; and application of an LENRD maintenance sticker to the Propeller Meter. The LENRD will supply grease, gaskets and other preventative maintenance supplies for this project.

These inspection and maintenance activities will be performed during the non-growing season, which is from October through April. Payment for these services will be negotiated between the District and the contractor but not more frequently than monthly for each completed inspection.

The District is seeking to have the Propeller Meters within Pierce County serviced (see the map below).

The full RFP is below. If you have any questions please contact Curt or Brian at the LENRD office (402) 371-7313 or by email at cbecker@lenrd.org or bbruckner@lenrd.org

Proposals must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 to the LENRD office.

Request for Proposal

Map

Two instructors from Madison High receive Educators of the Year Award

Two instructors from Madison High School received the Educators of the Year Award from the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD).

Suzy Foley and Patrick Kratochvil, both science teachers at Madison High, were recently honored at the NARD Annual Conference held at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney.  The awards were presented by Jim Johnson, Chairman of the NARD Information & Education Committee, and NARD President Larry Reynolds.

The two were nominated by the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) for their work in developing the Taylor-Union Watershed Team.  The team was started in the summer of 2011 to introduce minority students to fieldwork in science and to see how the concepts taught in the classroom can be used in real work situations.

Kratochvil said, “A total of eight sites on the Taylor and Union Creeks are tested once a month on consecutive days from June through August. The water quality is calculated based on the Water Quality Index (WQI) System, developed by the National Sanitation Federation.  Macro-invertebrates are also studied, allowing us to obtain a more complete survey of the Taylor and Union Creeks.  A macro-invertebrate count is made giving a water quality rating based on a formula developed by the Nebraska Wildlife Federation’s Adopt-a-Stream program.”

Kratochvil added, “Through the project we are using a cross-curricular strategy, which includes science, language arts, math and technology. This project also teaches the students about the different areas of science including Life Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, and Chemistry.”

Suzy Foley said, “We have students that started as young as incoming 6th graders and have continued through their first year of college. Through this process we have seen that the skills learned lead to higher achievement on tests such as the ACT and a more diverse set of skills for the job market.”

Foley added, “Students use their critical thinking skills while collecting and analyzing the samples collected during the Watershed class.  Excel is used to analyze the data that has been gathered throughout the summer and from past summers.  Once the data is entered, we generate graphs to visually display the information.  This allows the students to obtain a better grasp of the information they have collected.  They also create a Power Point presentation to share with the Madison Public School Board of Education, local community groups, the LENRD Board of Directors, and local Universities and Colleges.”

Kratochvil commented, “Each year we have some of the students involved in the program go to the Middle School and do a presentation about what the program is and how it’s exciting and fun as well as educational.  This is one way that we keep recruiting students into the program.”

LENRD Information & Education Specialist, Julie Wragge, said, “I was happy to nominate such a great team of leaders for our youth.  I have worked with Suzy and Patrick for a long time and they continue to step it up each year as they grow their program.  I’m very proud of the partnership the LENRD has developed with Madison Public Schools.  We congratulate Suzy and Patrick on this very deserving award.”

The Watershed Team has also become involved with the “Know Your Well” program through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the Nebraska Environmental Trust, and the Nebraska Water Center.  The students have had to gain an understanding of how land and water conservation apply to real world situations.  In this project, the students collect well samples from rural drinking wells in the area.  They run tests on the water and reports are given to the well owners with a discussion about the results.  Students were given the task of trying to discover where any possible contaminants came from.

The Taylor-Union Watershed Team has received grants from the LENRD, the Nebraska Environmental Trust, the Groundwater Foundation, and Farmland.

Patrick lives in Albion, and is originally from Pierce.  Suzy lives in Madison, and is originally from Blair.

Cover Crops Perform Double Duty

By: Dan Gillespie, NRCS No-till Specialist

Anyone could agree that the 2019 crop season has been one of extremes.  The Bomb Cyclone brought the incredible runoff event that led to thousands of acres of prevented planting.  The wet weather persisted well into the planting season.  Then in early June Mother Nature shut the rainfall spigot off on some folks while opening it wide on others.

Cover crops proved they have an ability to pull “double duty” this crop season.  While the soil was too cool, wet and saturated to work or plant, the cereal rye covers that love that kind of weather kept on growing, using up that excess moisture, growing vegetative cover and root biomass, and drying out the soil so it could warm up and be planted.

How is that ground cover duty important?  For those who caught the extra rainfall in June and July, the cover crop “armored” the soil surface with residue that deflected the impact of the rain drops and prevented detachment of the soil particles.  This allowed the soil surface pores to stay open to infiltrate and store the rainfall instead of allowing it to run off.

For those who had the rain spigot shut off, the cover crop vegetative biomass shielded the soil surface from direct sunshine that heats the soil surface up and reduced the wind that can evaporate moisture from the soil surface rapidly. This is especially important early in the crop season before the corn and soybean plants canopy. 

Meanwhile, the below ground root biomass likely quadrupled in mass in the extra few weeks the cover crop grew, exuding plant sugars and feeding the soil biology.  The roots of a 4-6 inch tall rye cover crop can extend 12-18 inches deep, while a 12-18 inch tall plant can explore up to three feet deep into the soil profile.

When the cover crop is terminated the roots die and begin to desiccate, shrinking as they degrade.  This creates a channel for water to penetrate and move into the topsoil.  The drying roots re-hydrate during a rain event and slow the movement of the soil water through the profile, making it available to the cash crop plant roots for a longer period of time.

In coarse, sandy soils the ability of the cover crop root biomass to slow down and hold on to soil water is an important duty the cover crop performs.  The coarse soils contain less organic matter, so the cover crop roots don’t biodegrade as quickly, creating a soil sponge effect that benefits the sandy soils longer into the season.  The plants get a few extra days shot at the water and more importantly the nitrates that could otherwise leach into the groundwater.

Many of you have already had your cover crops seeded by broadcasting aerially or with a ground driven high boy spreader.  The optimum time for seeding mixes that contain brassicas or legumes is past, as there isn’t enough biological time for them to grow enough to produce their desired effects.  Cereal rye, triticale or wheat are still a good choice to go with later in the year as it will germinate at soil temperatures as low as 34 degrees and start growing early in the spring.

Plant “green” the next spring and let the cover crop grow a little longer and give it time to provide more of its benefits.  If you have irrigation you can allow for even more cover crop growth as you are able to replace moisture used by the cover crop in exchange for the soil health boost the additional cover crop biomass provides.

Be thinking about planting cover crops as you prepare for harvest.  Integrating cover crops into a continuous no-till cropping system will accelerate the formation of soil organic matter and save soil, water and time.  

Contact your local NRCS office or the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District to obtain more information on cost share opportunities to put those “Double Duty” cover crops to work on your farm.

Pierce County farmer Steve Keck received excess moisture this spring and decided to plant soybeans into a “green” rye cover crop, letting the cereal rye cover crop grow longer before terminating it to utilize excess soil moisture and dry the soil for planting. If you have irrigation you can allow for more cover crop growth as you are able to replace moisture used by the cover crop in exchange for the soil health boost the additional biomass provides.

Taken August 12th, 2019, this picture shows Steve Keck in a healthy bean field. The biodegrading rye under the soybean plants is filling the crop canopy with carbon dioxide from the respiring soil biology. This makes the time the plant’s stomata are open to gather carbon dioxide the plant needs for photosynthesis shorter, resulting in less water vapor lost in transpiration and improved water use efficiency.