This article is the second of two articles featuring ongoing soil health and regenerative ag initiatives in Nebraska. If you missed the first article, read it here. 

Nebraska's agricultural landscape is evolving, with a diverse coalition of organizations spearheading innovative soil health initiatives. Government agencies, non-profit organizations, and academic institutions are collaboratively shaping the future of sustainable agriculture in the Cornhusker State. This article highlights the current soil health work and future initiatives of key Nebraska institutions, showcasing their collective efforts to promote regenerative farming practices. By sharing these endeavors, we aim to raise public awareness and inspire agricultural producers to engage with these vital programs, fostering a more resilient and sustainable agricultural ecosystem for generations to come.

The Nature Conservancy: Multi-Faceted Approach

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is one of the world's largest conservation-based nonprofit organizations. Our local team in Nebraska collaborates with producers and partners to promote conservation practices on agricultural land. The TNC Nebraska row crop team is currently leading several key initiatives in the state:

1. Nebraska Soil Carbon Project: This Regional Conservation Partnership Program, in collaboration with NRCS, local NRDs and supply chain partners, provides financial and technical assistance to adopt soil health practices across the geography of the Central Platte and Upper Big Blue NRDs. The goal is to support farmers in implementing cover crops, no-till farming, and diversified rotations on 100,000 acres over five years.
2. Farming for the Blue River Project: Funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, this project collaborates with the Little Blue and Lower Big Blue Natural Resource Districts. It offers farmers in target areas financial and technical assistance to develop and follow nitrogen management plans to improve their efficiency.
3. Resilient Irrigation Project: In partnership with the agricultural industry, this project works with producers in central Nebraska to utilize technology for improved irrigation management. It provides financial and technical assistance for adopting precision irrigation tools, quantifies water benefits, and identifies pathways to connect with entities interested in supporting water sustainability.

For more information, visit The Nature Conservancy – Nebraska website. 

UNL Soil Health Team: Extension and Education

The UNL Soil Health Team, revitalized in 2022, is a dynamic group of extension specialists, educators and graduate students dedicated to improving soil health in Nebraska's agroecosystems through education, outreach and research. Their efforts focus on promoting regenerative agricultural practices and addressing evolving soil health needs across the state.

Key Achievements: 

• Organized three soil health conferences, four field days, five soil health schools, and a webinar open nationwide.
• Engaged over 1,000 attendees in 2023-2024.
• Impacted an estimated 12.7 million acres, generating $101.6 million in value (2023).
• Secured $402,000 in funding for various initiatives.

2025 Initiatives:

1. Launch a climate smart ag educational online program.

2. Hosted two soil health conferences (Hastings on Jan. 29 and West Point on Feb. 11) focusing on crop-livestock integration and cover crop resources. 

3. Conduct soil health assessment training and field days.

The UNL SH team's responsive approach, diverse expertise and commitment to knowledge dissemination have established them as leaders in Nebraska's soil health education and outreach. Their work significantly contributes to sustainable agriculture practices, helping farmers improve soil quality, increase productivity and enhance environmental stewardship. For more information, visit the UNL Soil Health Program website or contact Caro Córdova, UNL soil health specialist.

Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy: Continuous Support

The Department of Environment and Energy’s vision is for everyone living, working and enjoying a healthy Nebraska environment. We support and develop innovative soil health programs to ensure future generations can use and enjoy the precious natural resources we enjoy today.

In 2024, the NDEE Nonpoint Source Pollution (Section 319) program provided over $565,000 to support projects that benefit soil health and water quality. Key projects supported include but are not limited to: the Bow Creek Watershed Project (Lewis and Clark NRD), the Bazile Groundwater Management Area Project (Lower Elkhorn NRD), the Highboy Cover Crop and Nitrogen Application Technology Demonstration (UNL), and the Shell Creek Conservation Effects Study (UNL).

Future Initiatives 

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) is developing a Nebraska Ag Registry and Grants program that will lead to adoption of practices that improve soil health in the state over the next five years. This initiative is part of NDEE’s ONE RED (Opportunity for Nebraska: Reducing Emissions and Decarbonatization) program, funded by an EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Implementation Grant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This ONE RED agriculture program has three components:

1. Establish a Carbon Intensity (CI) Score Registry, which will provide a Nebraska-based platform to accumulate and validate CI Scores for the state’s crops and provide metrics to track adoption of practices that reduce carbon intensity and improve soil health. Farmers will earn a small bonus for registering their crop score each season, and lower CI scores will position them to receive higher prices from the ethanol industry.
2. Financial incentive program for adoption of regenerative agriculture practices.
3. Financial incentive program for acquiring precision agriculture equipment, sensors and crop management systems.

Together, these initiatives will encourage regenerative agriculture practices that reduce carbon intensity and use of nitrogen fertilizer and diesel fuel, reduce tillage and equipment passes, and help build organic matter in soil.

The NDEE Section 319 program anticipates the completion of its Nonpoint Source Natural Hazard Management Plan in the spring of 2025. The completed plan will advise the NDEE Section 319 program on present and future modeled natural hazards and will enable managers to make informed decisions on where to proactively place resources in Nebraska watersheds for the protection of our natural resources. For more information, visit the NDEE Section 319 website.

USDA Agricultural Research Service: Agroecosystem Management Unit, Lincoln, Nebraska

The Agroecosystem Management Research Unit (AMRU), located in Lincoln, is focusing on several key areas related to soil health for 2024-2025.

1. LTAR Network — The Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Network conducts research on soil health, crop productivity, GHG emissions, erosion and conservation practice stacking across 19 sites nationwide. USDA-ARS-AMRU and UNL have engaged in partnership to lead the Platte River High Plains Aquifer long-term research site, which aims to provide insights into transformative agricultural practices over a 30-year period. PHRPA LTAR webpage
2. NRATE — Partnering with UNL Departments of Biosystems Engineering and Agronomy and Horticulture to evaluate the crop and soil impacts of precision nitrogen practices in Nebraska row-crop production and grazing systems.
3. Coordinated long-term field research — Partnering with UNL and UNL’s Research, Extension and Education centers to explore the soil health impacts of conservation vs. conventional management in long-term field experiments that are 15- to 40-plus years old. The team's soil health initiatives include evaluating the equilibrated responses of crops and soils to management including tillage, crop rotation, irrigation, residue management, fertilizer management and organic cropping systems. 
4. Summer research experience for students — Each summer, students are hired to gain hands-on experience in cutting edge agricultural research. Students have the opportunity to learn protocols for soil/plant sampling and laboratory analysis. If interested, please contact USDA-ARS-AMRU for more information.  

Acknowledgements

We extend our sincere gratitude to the representatives from various institutions and organizations who contributed valuable information to this article and participated in the Fall Soil Health Stewards online meetings organized by the UNL SH co-leaders:

Carlos Villareal, Nathan Mueller, and Brach Johnson (NRCS), Becky Ravenkamp (NRD), Alexa Davis and Kent Zimmerman (DNR), Jacob Fritton (TNC), Katie Hickle (NDEE), David Meyer and Craig Derickson (NSHC), Ariel Freidenreich (USDA-ARS), Bobbie Howard, Andrew Tonnies, and Cait Caughey (CFRA). Their expertise and insights were instrumental in shaping this work.