NRD Programs News:
 
Average Ground Water Levels in the Upper Big Blue NRD logo.
 
Crop Water Use logo.
 
Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network logo.
 
CROP-TIP logo (Cornerstone Resources Observation Plot-Test Irrigation Project)
 
Water & Atmometer--Timed Irrigation Project logo.
 
"Fantastic Fun--River Run" logo--Traveling Educational Exhibit.
 
"Conservation is the 'Nature' of Our Business"
 
 
  The Upper Big Blue NRD produces a quarterly newsletter.  There are some instances where the NRD will print an special edition newsletter outside the quarterly cycle.  If you would like to view archived newsletters prior to the years listed here, please contact the NRD office.  Below are the most recent "Blueprint" Newsletters.  Click on any newsletter to read that issue:

 

2005   2006   2007-08
January-05 April-05 January-06 April-06 January-07 May-07
"Blueprint" newsletter--January 2005. "Blueprint" newsletter--April 2005. "Blueprint" newsletter--January 2006. "Blueprint" newsletter--April 2006. "Blueprint" newsletter--January 2007. "Blueprint" newsletter--May 2007.
     
July-05 November-05 July-06 November-06 October-07 January-08
"Blueprint" newsletter--July 2005. "Blueprint" newsletter--November 2005. "Blueprint" newsletter--July 2006. "Blueprint" newsletter--November 2006.

  

 

More Newsworthy Sources and Helpful Information:

 

 

Nebraska's 39th Governor Dave Heineman.

Nebraska Governor

Dave Heineman

Drought Disaster Designations
In response to the drought, Governor Dave Heineman is coordinating with Nebraska Farm Service Agency officials and other appropriate individuals to submit counties to the United States Department of Agriculture for secretarial drought disaster designations. A secretarial disaster designation provides affected producers with access to an emergency low-interest loan program and opens the door to the FSA disaster set-aside program, which allows existing FSA direct loan borrowers to delay payment if they are unable to do so as a result of a disaster. It also provides access to the Small Business Administration disaster loan program for affected businesses, and it provides documentation for the Internal Revenue Service allowing producers to defer income on forced livestock sales due to the disaster. The designation can also be used to determine county eligibility for other disaster FSA programs.

  Agricultural Assistance Act of 2007
On May 25, 2007, President Bush signed into law the "U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007" (2007 Act).
www.droughtcentral.org with Gov. Heineman Introduction.
  This 2007 Act provides approximately $3 billion in agricultural disaster aid for America's farmers and ranchers. The aid will cover crop losses, livestock and feed losses, emergency conservation practices and dairy losses.  You are eligible for this new disaster aid if:  1) Your county was declared a disaster area by the President or Secretary of Agriculture for disasters occurring between January 1, 2005 and February 28, 2007 [for livestock].  All Nebraska counties either received a USDA Secretary of Agriculture disaster designation, or was contiguous to a disaster county, within the timeframe outlined by the 2007 Act. See below for map of 2006 disaster designations;  2) You experienced a loss of 35 percent or greater [for crops];  3) You had crop insurance or coverage under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) [for crops].

 

 

Edward T. Schafer is the 29th U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

Ed Schafer

Farm Bill 2007

The farm bill, also known as the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act, is the most influential piece of legislation that affects agriculture in America. A new farm bill is re-authorized every five years, directing farm program policy including conservation. Also known as Title II, conservation is one of ten titles that make up the omnibus legislation.  Farm bill conservation programs help producers comply with federal and state environmental rules, enhance soil and water quality, improve wildlife habitat, protect agricultural and grass lands and provide various other benefits.2007 Farm Bill.

 

 

 

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Upper Big Blue NRD     105 N. Lincoln Avenue         York, NE  68467     ♦   (402) 362-6601