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A wide expanse of corn plants a foot or two high under an orange sunset.
Corn Fields Corn fields at sunset. © Will Conkwright

Stories in Nebraska

Soil Health Project Seeks Central Nebraska Farmers

A new partnership is focused on sustainable practices that will benefit farmers and nature.

January 31, 2021 | Last updated September 29, 2023

The Nebraska Soil Carbon Project is a Nature Conservancy-led collaboration with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS),  the Upper Big Blue and Central Platte Natural Resource Districts, the Ecosystem Services Market Consortium (ESMC), Cargill, Target and McDonald's.

About the Project

"Our goal is to team up with approximately 100 producers to enroll 100,000 acres over five years," says Jacob Fritton, Director of Agriculture for The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska. "Farmers who enroll will be compensated for adopting cover crops, no-till and/or diverse rotations." 

A smiling, bearded man holding a plant.
Farmer Ryan Shaw holds a cover crop planted to protect the health of the soil in his fields. © Fauna Creative

Get Enrollment Details

Download the Nebraska Soil Carbon Project's recruitment and enrollment information for an in-depth description of the timeline, data privacy, farmer expectations and key contacts. 

Nebraska Soil Carbon Project By The Numbers

  • 100,000 acres of new soil health practices in central Nebraska croplands
  • Five years
  • Around 100 farmers
  • 3 practices: no-till, diversified rotations and/or cover crops
  • Financial assistance available through local NRCS offices
  • Educational opportunities to learn more about soil carbon programs, economics of adoption of conservation practices, and social barriers to change.
Farmers participating in this project have an opportunity to be part of an Ecosystem Services Market Consortium (ESMC) pilot project. Unlike other carbon payment programs, project farmers will be paid on an acreage basis and not based on the amount of carbon stored. This guaranteed by-acre rate meant to de-risk the adoption of new practices for our farmer cooperators. While there are many carbon programs available to producers, we are working with ESMC on this project. Here's why. 
 
Interested? You can learn more here. If you are interested in enrolling or have any questions before applying, email Nick Arneson or call him at (402) 676-1618.
 
Download Nebraska's Indirect Cost Policy here.

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