Monday September 15 Ag News - LENRD Passes FY26 budget - NE Cattlemen announce scholarships, ambassadors - Fall manure application prep - USDA $1B Emergency Livestock payments - and more!

 Lower Elkhorn NRD Board of Directors Approve Budget for Fiscal Year 2026
 
The Operating Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 was approved by the LENRD Board of Directors at their September 11th meeting.
 
The tax request of $4,575,012 was an increase of $73,125, 1.62%, from last year’s budget.  The estimated levy, based on the property tax request, is 1.6712 cents per $100 of valuation, which is a decrease of 9.46% from the FY 2025 levy of 1.8459 cents per $100 of valuation.  For example, if a person owns a $300,000 house, the taxes owed to the LENRD would have been $55.38 in 2025 and will be approximately $50.14 in 2026.
 
The LENRD’s total Operating Budget for FY 2026 is estimated at $13,696,929, which is an increase of $873,777, or 6.81% from last Fiscal Year. The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District Board and staff work diligently to prioritize spending to ensure that local tax dollars are used efficiently. 
 
Some major expenditures for FY 2026 are:
    Levee/Flood Protection Projects – $1,707,000; West Point Levee, Winslow Demolition, and Pender Rattlesnake Creek Project.
    Water Resources Programs – $586,520. 
    Project Construction – $661,000; Willow Creek Artesian Pressure Mitigation, Maskenthine Bike Trail and campground hydrants, Maple Creek water heater replacement, Willow Creek Park renovations, McKenzie Dam principal spillway renovation, and Scribner Air Base West Dam.
    Professional Services (including studies, designs & WFPO Projects) - $1,694,600; Battle Creek WFPO (partial grant reimbursement); Maple Creek WFPO (partial grant reimbursement); North Fork Elkhorn River WFPO (partial grant reimbursement); Willow Creek Dam Flood Plan; and Pierce Levee.
    Conservation Cost-Share Programs – $565,000; Bazile Groundwater Management Area Project (BGMA) and Willow Creek Best Management Practices (BMPs).
    Sinking Funds – Battle Creek Project Sinking Fund ($500,000) and Flood Mitigation Sinking Fund ($575,000). 

The LENRD has received major grant funding for the: Hazard Mitigation Plan (Federal Emergency Management Agency & Nebraska Emergency Management Agency); Bazile Groundwater Management Area, Willow Creek BMPs, and Public Beach Monitoring Program (Environmental Protection Agency); Source Water Protection Person, and Bazile Coordinator (Natural Resources Conservation Service); Conservation Planner (National Association of Conservation Districts Technical Grant); and State grants and funds from Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment, and Nebraska Environmental Trust.
 
The Lower Elkhorn NRD has also received grant funding from the NRCS for Watershed Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO).  Funding through this program has assisted with the environmental assessments for the North Fork Elkhorn River Watershed Plan, the Maple Creek Watershed Plan, and the Battle Creek Watershed Plan.
 
Because the LENRD strives to be fiscally responsible with local tax dollars, there is a strong focus on the continuation of allocating resources towards Sinking Funds in the budget. The funds are put into savings now to be used for expenses that will occur with future projects.  This mechanism allows the LENRD to maintain a stable tax levy, preventing the spike effect that can occur when the NRD needs to raise significant funds in a short timeframe. 
 
The budget needs to be submitted to the Nebraska State Auditor’s office by September 30th each year and therefore the Fiscal Year budget and tax levy are set at the Special September Board meetings, which follows the public hearing for the budget.  The District’s board meetings are open to the public and begin at 7:30 p.m. on the 4th Thursday of the month.
 
To learn more about the 12 responsibilities of Nebraska’s NRDs and how your local District can work with you and your community to protect your natural resources, visit www.lenrd.org and sign up for our monthly emails. The next Board of Directors meeting will be Thursday, September 25, 2025, at the LENRD office in Norfolk at 7:30 p.m. and on Facebook Live.



Allison Walbrecht Selected as the 2025 Nebraska Cattlemen Beef State Scholar by the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation

The Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation (NCF) announced Ms. Allison Walbrecht as the 2025 Nebraska Cattlemen Beef State Scholar.  

Walbrecht, born to Ben and Denise Walbrecht of Lincoln, Nebraska, is a rising senior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As a fifth-generation beef producer, she is majoring in Animal Science-Business and Communications, with minors in Agribusiness, Engler Entrepreneurship, and the Krutzinger Beef Industry Scholars Program. On campus she is actively involved in her sorority, Gamma Phi Beta, is a funded UCARE Research grant recipient, the 2025-2026 Young Nebraska Cattlemen President, a Nebraska CARET Delegate, and a Yeutter Student Trade Fellow. She was also honored to represent the state as Nebraska's 2023-2024 Beef Ambassador and 2024 4-H Volunteer of the Year. Walbrecht remains committed to the future of agriculture and aims to pursue her Master's in Agriculture Economics post-graduation to later go on and represent the industry's trade and policy interests. 

Allison Walbrecht said, “I am honored and humbled to be chosen as this year's Nebraska Cattlemen Beef State Scholarship recipient. There truly is no place like Nebraska! Thank you to the cattlemen and women who have continued to believe in me and push me to be the best version of myself. I am excited to keep giving back to this amazing industry!”

Loren Berger, President of the NCF stated, “Allison is a bright young lady who is destined to do great things for the beef cattle industry. We are proud to award her with the Nebraska Cattlemen Beef State Scholarship as she is a servant leader in her community and her drive to tell the beef story inspires those around her." He continued, "Passionate students like Allison serve as a strong reminder that the future of our industry is brighter than ever."

In addition to the Beef State Scholarship, the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation awarded over $70,000 in scholarships to sixty-five students furthering their education in the 2025-2026 academic year.

To donate or for more information concerning the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation, contact Ashley McClinton, Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation Secretary at (402) 475-2333 or Jana Jensen, Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation Fundraising Coordinator at (308) 588-6299.

Established in 2014, the Nebraska Cattlemen Beef State Scholarship is the premier Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation scholarship providing a $10,000 award to an outstanding junior, senior, or graduate level Nebraska resident student enrolled in a Nebraska college or university pursuing a beef industry related degree. 



Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation Awards Over $70,000 in Scholarships

The Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation (NCF) awarded over $70,000 in scholarships to help the next generation of the agriculture industry in their academic pursuits. The scholarships were awarded to sixty-five distinguished students. 

President of the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation, Loren Berger stated, "Sixty-five students who are aspiring to better the future of the beef cattle industry were awarded with academic scholarships thanks to our generous donors." He continued, "We look forward to watching these young leaders pursue a higher education and reinvest in agriculture."

To donate or for more information concerning the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation, contact Ashley McClinton, Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation Secretary at (402) 475-2333 or Jana Jensen, Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation Fundraising Coordinator at (308) 588-6299.

2025 Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation Scholars include

Albion
Braden Benes - $1,200 Vance Uden Memorial Scholarship
Gavin Dozler - $1,500 Beef State Finalist Scholarship
Cassidy Maricle - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
 
Columbus
Rory Korte - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
Kurt Schneider - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship

Humphrey
Rachel Martensen - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship

Leigh
Kammy Held - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship

Oakland
Bailey Denton - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship

Royal
Christen Curtis - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship

Wakefield
Ashlyn Boeckenhauer - $1,200 Col. Melvin Huss Memorial Scholarship

West Point
Sydney Hutchinson - $1,200 Ron & Shirley Huss Scholarship

Yutan
Loganne Barta - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship

Background
Established in 1968, the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation’s mission is to advance the future of Nebraska’s Beef industry by investing in research and education programs. The Foundation’s success and its ability to endow scholarships, sponsor leadership and education programs, and assist with research and infrastructure projects has been possible only because of the support from the Nebraska cattle producers and allied industries. As the Foundation grows, expands, and moves forward in its mission to raise funds for educational and scientific activities that benefit the state’s beef producers – the board asks you to consider investing in your industry through the Foundation.



2025 Nebraska Beef Ambassador Contest Winners

Nebraska Cattlemen’s NCW - Consumer Education and Promotion Committee is pleased to announce the results of the 2025 Beef Ambassador Contest.

Competition judge, Dr. Kacie McCarthy said, “I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the students during their media interviews. Their passion for the beef industry was evident, and it was inspiring to see many step out of their comfort zones and present themselves with confidence. I was truly impressed by the individuals who are eager to make a meaningful impact in the future within the beef industry.”

2025 Beef Ambassador Contest Results

Collegiate Winners
First Place - Emelia Rouke, Waverly
Second Place - Grace Brennemann, Valentine
Third Place - Ainsley McConnell, Paxton

Senior Winners
First Place – Ella Brennemann, Valentine
Second Place – Parker Walahoski, Overton
Third Place – Emily Van Meter, Bennett

The Nebraska Beef Ambassador Contest and Beef Advocacy Training provides an opportunity for future beef industry leaders, ages fourteen to twenty-four years old, to sharpen their advocacy skills and strengthen their knowledge of the key issues facing the number one industry in Nebraska.

The Beef Ambassador Contest requires participants to address current issues facing the beef industry with both a written response and a mock media interview. The contest is separated into two divisions, senior and collegiate. Cash prizes are awarded, and the two first-place division winners receive a belt buckle. The first-place junior and collegiate winners become official Nebraska Beef Ambassadors for a full year. They will work to educate consumers and students on the importance of beef. At the end of their one-year term, the collegiate Nebraska Beef Ambassador will be awarded a scholarship on behalf of the Nebraska Cattlemen Research and Education Foundation.

The 2025 Nebraska Beef Ambassador Contest and Advocacy Training was held on June 11, in Kearney, Nebraska. The competition is sponsored by Farm Credit Services of America and Purina Animal Health. 



Nebraska Wheat Board Names New Leadership for Upcoming Term
 
Governor Jim Pillen recently appointed Amy Warner of Edison as director for District 5 and re-appointed Mark Spurgin of Paxton as District 7 director of the Nebraska Wheat Board (NWB). Both were officially sworn in during the board’s first-quarter meeting, held August 6, 2025, in Lincoln. The meeting also included officer elections for the 2025–2026 fiscal year, during which Tyson Narjes was elected Chair and Mary Eisenzimmer was elected Vice Chair.
 
Warner is a graduate of Fort Hays State University, where she earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in organizational leadership. She owns Marigold Business Solutions, a consulting company dedicated to helping ag companies and farming operations develop leaders, build strong cultures, and plan strategically to ensure a strong and sustainable future for the next generation. Warner married into a multi-generational diversified ag operation, in which she and her family raise both winter and spring wheat, along with corn, soybeans, and a registered Gelbvieh cow herd with annual female and bull sales, in southwest Nebraska. She and her husband, Darren have three children. Warner is a member of the Nebraska LEAD Class 43. She is active in her community, serving on the Furnas County Extension Board, Furnas County Zoning Board, the First Presbyterian Church Session Board and serves as church secretary.  
 
Spurgin is a graduate of the University of Nebraska, the Colorado School of Banking in Boulder, and the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He has held leadership roles at the local and state levels, serving on the West Central District and Keith County Farm Advisory Committee, Keith County Planning and Zoning Board, and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission representing District 7. His involvement also includes service with the Nebraska Beef Council, Nebraska Cattlemen, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and the Nebraska Crop Improvement Association. Elected to the Nebraska Wheat Growers Association executive board in 2014, Spurgin has served as president and remains an active board member. He owns Spurgin Inc., a diversified operation that focuses on cattle feeding and raising wheat, corn, soybeans, and feed crops.

Both Warner and Spurgin will serve through June 30, 2030, with the option to seek reappointment at the conclusion of their terms.
 
Narjes, appointed in 2018 and re-appointed in 2023, represents District 2. A fifth-generation farmer, he and his wife, Regina, along with their three children, raise red and white wheat, corn, proso millet, and operate an Angus-Hereford cow-calf herd in Cheyenne County. Narjes is a University of Nebraska–Lincoln graduate and has served on the Cheyenne County Farm Bureau and the Kimball-Banner-Cheyenne County Extension Boards.
 
Mary Eisenzimmer of Big Springs, appointed to the board in 2022, continues to serve as the District 3 director. Alongside her husband, Keith, and their two daughters, she is active in the family farming operation. A graduate of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with degrees in Agribusiness and Agricultural Education, Eisenzimmer worked in the agricultural equipment industry for 27
years before joining Farm Bureau Financial Services in 2023. She is also involved with the Nebraska Agriculture Leadership Council, Keith County Farm Bureau, and the Rotary Club of Ogallala.
 
Narjes and Eisenzimmer will serve in their officer roles through June 2026. Both are also responsible for representing Nebraska on the U.S. Wheat Associates Board of Directors, where they will vote on key issues impacting the wheat industry.



Preparing for Fall Manure Application: Key Tips and Certification Reminder

As harvest season begins across Iowa, it is also time to turn attention to fall manure application. According to Dan Andersen, associate professor and extension agriculture engineering specialist at Iowa State University, proper preparation now ensures manure is effectively used as a nutrient resource, supports soil health and protects water quality.

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach agricultural engineering team has shared its annual guide on best practices for fall manure application. This resource covers everything from manure testing and equipment calibration to optimal timing, soil conditions and safety.

Seasoned applicators and those new to the practice are encouraged to review these reminders to help ensure compliance, efficiency and environmental stewardship.

Read the full article at the new Ag Engineering Extension and Outreach website https://www.extension.iastate.edu/ageng/prepping-fall-manure-application-timing-techniques-and-tips.

Ensure Current Manure Applicator Certification
Before heading out to the field, applicators should make sure their Manure Applicator Certification is up to date. Iowa law requires certification for both commercial and confinement site manure applicators.

There are three convenient options to complete 2025 certification:
    Visit your county extension office to view a training video.
    Complete certification online training , including payment, through the Iowa DNR.
    Schedule a testing appointment at your nearest DNR Field Office.

Early certifications can help avoid delays during application season.

For more information on certification or to access training materials, contact your county extension office or visit the Iowa DNR Manure Applicator Certification website https://www.iowadnr.gov/environmental-protection/animal-feeding-operations/afo-manure-application.



USDA to Provide $1 Billion to Flood and Wildfire-Impacted Livestock Producers

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins Friday announced eligible livestock producers will receive disaster recovery assistance through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program for 2023 and 2024 Flood and Wildfire (ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW) to help offset increased supplemental feed costs due to a qualifying flood or qualifying wildfire in calendar years 2023 and 2024. The program is expected to provide approximately $1 billion in recovery benefits. Sign-up begins on Monday, September 15. Livestock producers have until October 31, 2025, to apply for assistance.

“We are providing continued support for livestock producers whose livelihoods and way of life have been disrupted by catastrophic floods, wildfires, and poor forage conditions in 2023 and 2024. Under President Trump’s leadership, USDA is standing shoulder to shoulder with America’s farmers and ranchers, delivering the resources they need to stay in business, feed their families, and keep our food supply strong,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “This announcement builds on the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) and the historic levels of assistance we have rolled out over the last few months, once again proving that this administration is working as quickly as possible to get help out the door and into the hands of livestock and dairy producers. USDA will continue to put farmers first and ensure they have the relief they need to weather storms and build for the future.”

Qualifying Disaster Events
To streamline program delivery, FSA has determined eligible counties with qualifying floods and qualifying wildfires in 2023 and 2024. For losses in these counties, livestock producers are not required to submit supporting documentation for floods or wildfires. A list of approved counties is available at fsa.usda.gov/elrp.

For losses in counties not listed as eligible, livestock producers can apply for ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW but must provide supporting documentation to demonstrate that a qualifying flood or qualifying wildfire occurred in the county where the livestock were physically located or would have been physically located if not for the disaster event. FSA county committees will determine if the disaster event meets program requirements.

Livestock and Producer Eligibility
For ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW, FSA is using covered livestock criteria similar to the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) which includes weaned beef cattle, dairy cattle, beefalo, buffalo, bison, alpacas, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, ostriches, reindeer, and sheep.

Wildfire assistance is available on non-federally managed land to participants who did not receive assistance through LFP or the ELRP 2023 and 2024 for drought and wildfire program delivered to producers in July of this year.

Payment Calculation
Eligible producers can receive up to 60% of one month of calculated feed costs for a qualifying wildfire or three months for a qualifying flood using the same monthly feed cost calculation that is used for LFP.

ELRP 2023 and 2024 for drought and wildfire and ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW have a combined payment limit of $125,000 for each program year. Producers who already received the maximum payment amount from ELRP 2023 and 2024 for drought and wildfire will not be eligible to receive an additional payment under ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW. Eligible producers may submit form FSA-510, Request for an Exception to the $125,000 Payment Limitation for Certain Programs, to be considered for an increased payment limit of $250,000.

Supplemental Disaster Assistance Timeline
USDA is fully committed to expediting remaining disaster assistance provided by the American Relief Act, 2025. On May 7, we launched our 2023/2024 Supplemental Disaster Assistance public landing page where the status of USDA disaster assistance and block grant rollout timeline can be tracked. The page is updated regularly and accessible through fsa.usda.gov. Contact your local FSA county office for more information.



USDA Forecasts US Corn Production Up, Soybean and Cotton Production Down from 2024

Corn production is up, while soybean and cotton production is down from 2024, according to the Crop Production report issued today by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Corn production is up 13% from last year, forecast at 16.8 billion bushels; soybean growers are expected to decrease their production 2% from 2024, forecast at 4.30 billion bushels; cotton production is down 8% from 2024 at 13.2 million 480-pound bales.

Planted and harvested acreage estimates for corn, cotton, and soybeans were reviewed again this month based on all available data, including the latest certified acreage data from the Farm Service Agency. As a result, area planted to corn is estimated at 98.7 million acres, up from the previous estimate; area planted to soybeans is estimated at 81.1 million acres, up from the previous estimate; and area planted to cotton is estimated at 9.30 million acres, up from the previous estimate.

The average U.S. corn yield is forecast at 186.7 bushels per acre, down 2.1 bushels from last month’s forecast, but up 7.4 bushels from last year. NASS forecasts record high yields in Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Acres planted to corn, at 98.7 million, are up 9% from 2024. Area to be harvested for grain is forecast at 90.0 million acres, up from last month, and 9% more than was harvested last year. As of Aug. 31, 69% of this year’s corn crop was reported in good to excellent condition, 4 percentage points above the same time last year.

Area for soybean harvest is forecast at 80.3 million acres, up from last month, but 7% less than was harvested last year. Planted area for the nation, estimated at 81.1 million acres, is down 7% from last year. Soybean yields are expected to average 53.5 bushels per acre, down from last month’s forecast, but up 2.8 bushels from 2024. If realized, the forecasted yields in Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin will be record highs.

NASS forecasts all cotton area to be harvested at 7.37 million acres, up from last month’s forecast, but 6% less acres than were harvested last season. Yield is expected to average 861 pounds per harvested acre, down 1 pound from last month’s forecast, and down 25 pounds from 2024. Area planted to all cotton is estimated at 9.30 million acres, down 17% from last year.

NASS surveyed more than 7,600 producers across the country and conducted objective yield surveys for corn and soybeans in preparation for this report.