Written by Jenny Brhel, Nebraska Extension Educator
Thank you to those who responded to last week’s poll question whether via the poll or contacting me via email or phone. The poll results are shared on my blog site.
Nitrogen Reduction Incentive Act (NiRIA): With high input prices, one opportunity to reduce costs is to become more efficient with nitrogen fertilizer applications. (Information from this article comes from the NiRIA Program website, guidance documents, and UNL CropWatch). Established under LB 1368 (2024), NiRIA is a state program that offers payments to producers who reduce their nitrogen fertilizer application rates by the lesser of 40 pounds per acre or 15% of their baseline rate. The program is available to corn, sugarbeet, wheat and potato producers statewide, with total funding for 2026 capped at $1 million.
Producers who successfully participated in the 2025 program may enroll again if reductions are on different fields. Administration and funding of NiRIA are done through the partnerships of the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE), local Natural Resources Districts (NRDs), and the Nebraska Corn Board.
Each participant will need to identify the practice(s)/product(s) they plan to implement to achieve the 40 lb N or 15% reduction of N per acre. Practices/products are subjected to individual NRD approval:
- Reduction in nitrogen application
- Implementation of in-season sensor-based technology
- Implementation of a nitrogen stabilizer
- Implementation of a biological product
- Implementation of other technology utilizing nitrogen timing and/or rate
Applications due to local NRDs by Nov. 15, 2025, with approvals announced by Dec. 15, 2025. Payments range from $10 to $15 per acre, depending on your priority area (A, B or C). Each NRD manages application approval and prioritization based on available funding. Contact your local NRD for assistance in determining your priority area and for submission details. NiRIA program information, application form, and NRD’s point of contact can be found on the NDEE website.
Nebraska On-Farm Research conducted in the York/Seward and surrounding county area has found the following regarding the various practices shared in the options above.
- Nitrification Inhibitor: Only one study (which used ATS as the inhibitor with 32%) in 22 site-years-worth of studies found a positive yield increase when using nitrification inhibitors (mostly with anhydrous) in heavier textured soils. Minimal savings in N leaching was found.
- Rate and Timing: No yield difference when applying N pre-plant vs. split application. No yield differences when nitrogen was applied +/- 50 lb N/ac vs. the grower rate. (7 site-years)
- Pivot Bio: Across 64 replications, 27% of studies showed a 5 bu/ac or greater yield increase, 17% showed a 5 bu/ac or greater yield decrease, and 56% of studies were within 5 bu/ac.
- In-Season Sensor-based technology using Sentinel Ag: average of 57 lb N/ac of nitrogen savings between grower and Sentinel treatments in 2023 and 42 lb N/ac over 17 site-years (2023-2024) without significant yield differences. It can be used with fertigation and/or sidedress applications in both irrigated and non-irrigated acres.
Poll results from 9/29/25: What’s the 1-2 main reasons holding you back from trying technology like: Fertigation and/or In-Season Plant Sensing Technologies like Sentinel Ag? (11 responses)
Anonymous: I have not fertigated because I utilize ydrop application. I’m not opposed to fertigating, it is just 1 more certification we have to obtain on an already certificate happy society. Ydrop application definitely has its downfalls though like time for extra passes, more hours on a machine, not very fun to apply, labor and most likely limited to just 1 pass. Have not had much experience w plant sensing technology and have always questioned its accuracy, especially on the go at a high speed. Fertilizer is a pretty important pass, would hate to not get it right. Usually when you see signs of shortages it’s too late.
Anonymous: Available time to do fertigation.
Anonymous: I often ask this same question if we are trying to be more efficient and we have the data to back it why are we allowed to put so much pre plant fertility out the data shows less applied more times = efficient
Anonymous: My side dressing works well.
Anonymous: I already fertigate all corn 1 time per season. It’s hard to find time with water needs, weather, crop stage, getting fertilizer to the pivots etc to do numerous passes.
Anonymous: Cost Not sure it fits my farm
Anonymous: Fertigation is an “upper level” management practice. Many farmers do not have the time, education, or experience it takes to fertigate correctly and safely. There is expense involved with the permit and the equipment involved. (Example: The gasket in my chemigation valve had a small crack from age so it did not pass inspection by NRD. A new valve was over $900 plus the labor and time to replace it!) Plant sensing technologies come with an expense and a learning curve also.
Anonymous: 32% is more expensive than anhydrous Cost of equipment and management of fertilizing with numerous pivots
Anonymous: time, labor
Anonymous: Trusting that the technologies actually work and give consistent results.
Anonymous: Lack the knowledge to do this.
