USDA is investing nearly $8 million in the Ogallala Aquifer Initiative in 2016 in eight states including Nebraska. The initiative is part of the EQIP or Environmental Quality Incentives Program. Nebraska NRCS State Conservationist Craig Derickson says the funding is used to help farmers and ranchers with conservation programs that in part save billions of gallons of water annually. He says Nebraska’s share of the funding is close to $2.5 million dollars.

Derickson says there are several geographical areas they’re targeting in the aquifer with the initiative.
And one of their overreaching goals with the program is improved irrigation management with Nebraska farmers so dependent on this resource.

The Ogallala Aquifer covers eight states and nearly 174,000 square miles.