Nebraska
Cost Share Opportunities and Options
Audubon
Audubon Conservation Ranching
This certification-based program focuses on grassland management, monitoring, and marketing. Certified ranches become eligible for market-based conservation incentives. The program supports rotational grazing, woody encroachment management, and prescribed fire, with financial assistance primarily targeted to western South Dakota.
Payment Rate
Market-based incentives and targeted financial assistance. Funding varies by practice.
Contact Information
Joshua Lefers
Phone: 605-770-2989
Email: joshua.lefers@audubon.org
Cody Grewing
Phone: 712-490-6720
Email: cody.grewing@audubon.org
Website
Conservation Technology Information Center
Farmers for Soil Health
Farmers for Soil Health is a three-year incentive program designed to expand cover crop adoption on acres with corn and/or soybeans in rotation. Compliance with NRCS 340 cover crop standards is required, and technical assistance is provided for seeding rates, timing, and mixes. Outreach and support are available in Dakotas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Participation cannot be stacked with other USDA programs for the same practice.
Payment Rates
Total payment of $50 per acre over three years.
Year 1: $25 per acre
Year 2: $15 per acre
Year 3: $10 per acre
Contact Information
Seth Norquest
Phone: 402-710-1987
Email: snorquest@precisionconservation.org
Website
Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited programs emphasize the restoration, enhancement, and retention of wetlands and grasslands. DU manages several grants for funding sources that emphasize conservation practices such as grassland/wetland restoration, livestock grazing systems on grasslands and croplands, and soil health practices. Reach out to your local biologist or agronomist on the website to request a consultation or more information.
Contact Information
Ele Nugent
Grand Island, NE
Phone: 517-242-6207
Website
Farm Service Agency
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
CRP is a voluntary USDA program that removes environmentally sensitive agricultural land from production and establishes long-term conservation cover. It improves soil erosion control, water quality, and wildlife habitat. Enrollment options include General CRP, Grassland CRP, Continuous CRP, SAFE, CLEAR30, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), and Farmable Wetlands. Contracts are administered by FSA, with technical support from NRCS, state agencies, conservation districts, and approved partners.
Payment Rates
Annual rental payments.
Cost share assistance for establishment.
Contract lengths are typically 10 to 15 years.
Contact Information
Contact your local Farm Service Agency office for more details.
https://www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices
Website
https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs?assistance_type%5B0%5D=12
Habitat One
Free Food Plot Seed
To help ensure wildlife have access to adequate nutrition during these challenging conditions, Habitat One has established a Free Food Plot See Program. This program is designed to assist landowners in providing reliable winter food and cover for wildlife through the establishment of dedicated food plots.
Contact Information
Brooke Fricke
Operations and Administration Manager
Phone: 308-362-7061
Email: brooke@habitat-one.org
Mule Deer Foundation
Private Lands Program
The Private Lands Program supports grazing infrastructure and management improvements, including virtual fencing and alternative grazing strategies. The program also funds replacement of degraded or obsolete fencing with wildlife-friendly fencing, as well as grazing management planning, regenerative grazing practices, wildlife habitat and ecosystem restoration, riparian restoration and protection, strategic wildlife crossings, and invasive species control. Wildlife-focused water developments in arid or seasonal habitats are also supported.
Payment Rates
No funding cap. Funding is pooled from multiple organizations.
Contact Information
David Stockdill
Phone: 701-471-9004
Email: dstockdill@muledeer.org
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)
- Protects agricultural viability and related conservation values
- Limits nonagricultural uses that negatively affect agricultural land
- Protects grazing uses by restoring or conserving eligible grazing land
- Protects, restores, and enhances wetlands on eligible land
- Includes Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)
Payment Rates
- Dependent on the project
- Matching funds required to be funded.
Contact Information
Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for more details.
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/nebraska
Website
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
The Conservation Stewardship Program rewards producers who maintain existing conservation practices and implement additional enhancements on working lands. The program encourages long-term stewardship and continual improvement.
Payment Rates
Annual stewardship payments are provided.
Contracts last five years with minimum annual payment thresholds.
Contact Information
Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for more details.
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/nebraska
Website
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
EQIP provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers for addressing natural resource concerns such as soil, water, air quality, and wildlife habitat. The program is designed to support a wide range of conservation practices.
Payment Rates
Typically, EQIP offers a 50 to 60 percent cost share.
Rates depend on the conservation practices implemented.
Contact Information
Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for more details.
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/nebraska
Website
Great Plains Grassland Initiative
This initiative targets areas at greatest risk of woody plant encroachment in Nebraska. Supported practices include prescribed burning, prescribed grazing, brush management, and related conservation methods. Goals are to improve livestock production, reduce wildfire risk, and protect grassland biodiversity.
Payment Rates
- Funding is project-based.
Contact Information
Jeff Nichols
Phone: (308) 534-2360 ext. 3707
Email: Jeffrey.nichols@usda.gov
National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI)
In Nebraska, NRCS worked closely with partners, including the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment and the Natural Resources Districts (NRDs), to select eligible priority watersheds. These partners assisted in selecting watersheds where on-farm conservation investments will deliver the greatest water quality improvement benefits. The watersheds selected in Nebraska eligible for the National Water Quality Initiative funding are Bazile Creek, Turkey Creek, Big Sandy and Wahoo Creek.
Contact Information
Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for more details.
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/nebraska
Website
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives
Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
- Promotes coordination of NRCS activities with partners
- Expands the ability to address on farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns
- Supports on the ground conservation activities implemented by farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners
Eligible Activities
- Land management and land improvement or restoration practices
- Land rentals
- Entity held easements
- United States held easements
- Public works and watershed projects
Payment Rates
- Typically 50 to 60 percent cost share
- Dependent on the practices utilized
Contact Information
Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for more details.
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/nebraska
Website
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives
Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW)
The WLFW program focuses on conserving working rangelands while addressing priority wildlife and habitat concerns. Emphasis is placed on reducing woody plant encroachment and improving grassland resilience.
Payment Rates
- Funding is based on project specifics.
Contact Information
Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for more details.
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/nebraska
Website
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/working-lands-for-wildlife
Natural Resources Commission/Natural Resources Department
Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Program
The Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Fund, established in 1977, provides state financial assistance to Nebraska landowners for the installation of approved soil and water conservation measures that improve water quality, conserve water, and help control erosion and sedimentation. Among the eligible practices for cost-share assistance are; terraces, terrace outlets (grassed or mechanical), irrigation reuse pits, grade stabilizationstructures, dams, diversions, grassed waterways, control basins, pasture and range seeding, planned grazing systems, irrigation water management and windbreaks and windbreak renovations.
Payment Rates
- Cost-share payment (rates) cannot exceed 75% of either the average cost or actual costs, whichever is less. Individual NRDs often adopt a cost-share percentage of less than 75%, especially if the federal cost-share rate for the same type of practice is also less than 75%.
Contact Information
Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for more details as they will be the one providing the technical assistance.
Website
Nebraska Game and Parks Programs
Open Fields and Waters (OFW)
In 2009, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission initiated the Open Fields and Waters (OFW) program to increase public access opportunities on private lands. OFW is a voluntary program that offers financial incentives to landowners willing to allow public walk-in access for hunting, trapping, and/or fishing. Landowners who enroll in OFW are afforded protection from liability through the Nebraska Recreation Liability Act. Learn how you can join the 900-plus landowners in Nebraska who provide public access opportunities through the OFW program.
Payment Rates
- Annual payment rates for OFW range from 50 cents to $25 per land acre, depending on property location, enrollment option, and habitat type/quality enrolled.
- For fishing access, landowners can enroll ponds or lakes ($250 for 1st surface acre plus $40/ac for each additional acre), as well as cold-water ($375-750/mile) or warmwater streams ($250-500/mile). Payment rates for streams depend on whether one or both sides are enrolled.
- Landowners who enroll in OFW are afforded protection from liability through the Nebraska Recreation Liability Act (Nebraska Statutes 37-729 to 37-736) which states that landowners or tenants do not assume responsibility or incur liability for injury to any persons who enter land opened to public hunting and fishing under agreement with the state.
Contact Information
Contact a Game and Parks Biologist or call the nearest Game and Parks Office any time of the year.
Website
https://outdoornebraska.gov/conservation/land-management/open-fields-and-waters/
Pheasants Forever
Nebraska Community Access Partnership (NCAP) Initiative
NCAP encourages enrollment of private land into public access across Nebraska, working in conjunction with the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission (NGPC) Open Fields and Waters (OFW) Program. The initiative provides additional financial incentives for wildlife habitat open to public access and was launched in 2023.
Payment Rates
- Landowners willing to allow 5-years in the public access Open Fields and Waters Program (OFW) through Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) can qualify for two options:
- $25/ac one-time bonus for quality sites enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
- $10/ac one-time bonus for rangeland
Contact Information
Addie Piernicky, PF & QF’s NCAP Coordinating Wildlife Biologist
Phone: 308-737-0944
Email: apiernicky@pheasantsforever.org
Website
https://www.pheasantsforever.org/Hunting/PATH-Program-NE.aspx
Soil and Water Outcomes Fund
Soil and Water Outcomes Fund
The Soil and Water Outcomes Fund provide financial incentives based on environmental outcomes from conservation practices, such as reduced tillage, cover crops, and extended crop rotations. Since 2020, the fund has enrolled over 540,000 acres and paid more than $17.5 million. Average participant earnings were $33 per acre in 2023, and enrollment areas have expanded.
Payment Rates
Payment offers are provided prior to contract signing.
Payments are made in two installments: 50 percent prior to verification, 50 percent after verification.
Final payment is guaranteed if contract practices are implemented.
Some dual enrollments with other programs may be possible, determined at the field level.
Contact Information
Katie Nelson
Email: katie@agoutcomes.com
Connor Kriegshauser
Email: connor@agoutcomes.com
The Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund
Seed a Legacy
Transform 2+ acres of land into thriving, high-quality habitat with long-term ecological impact. Must be a new project.
Payment Rates
2-25 acres receive seed at no cost, 25+ receive seed at a reduced cost.
Contact Information
701-658-2967
World Wildlife Fund
Ranch Systems and Viability Planning (RSVP)
RSVP supports ranch planning and on-the-ground improvements to enhance long-term ranch viability. Eligible activities include water developments, fencing, beaver dam analogs, grazing plans, and related infrastructure.
Payment Rates
Up to 50 percent of total project costs not covered by the rancher or partners.
Maximum funding is $60,000 per ranch.
Contact Information
Alexis Bonogofsky
Email: alexis.bonogofsky@wwfus.org