BLUEPRINT -- Annual Forestry Issue -- February 2021
It's Tree Time!
There's an old saying that the best time to plant trees is ten years ago. The second best time is today.

You can order low-cost trees for your property through our Conservation Tree Program, now through March 30. Your trees will arrive in April, just in time for spring planting. Supplies are limited, so don't delay ordering--you might miss out on your preferred species.
Planning and Planting
It’s a brisk winter day in Nebraska. The sun is shining but the wind is sharp as Kyle Yrkoski stands on the edge of a cornfield with a landowner in Seward County, just south of I-80. The landowner, Mitch Springer, has a house nearby that is well protected by trees. “In the summer, you can’t even see the house from here,” he says. He’s looking to add the same screen of protection to the few acres of farmland adjacent to his homeplace, where a thick layer of corn stubble covers the rich, dark earth. Currently, he rents the farmland out, but someday he may sell it for acreages. While he has no immediate plans to change ownership of the property, he is looking ahead and considering how he could improve the value of the land and enhance his investment by adding trees. More...
Bonus! Nitrogen Management Training Event Added
Growers in the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District will have an extra opportunity to learn useful info and earn certification for nitrogen use this spring. The NRD has added an additional training event on Thursday, March 18, at 6:30 p.m. at the Holthus Convention Center (York). Growers can also attend a training event on February 10 and access videos from previous events on the website. More...
Drip Tips: Protect Your Trees In Times of Drought
Some forecasters are predicting lower than usual rainfall for Nebraska in 2021. In case that happens, here are five easy tips for how to protect your trees in a water-scarce year:
  1. Trees planted in the last 10 years may need supplemental watering to survive during a drought. Even well-established trees that are 20+ years old may show stress if there are sustained high temperatures and low moisture. More...
Storm Damaged Trees?
We have a program for that!
From ice and snow to lightning strikes, high winds, and floods, there are many acute stressors that could spell disaster for trees on your property.
 
The NRD is here to help you replace trees that have been lost as a result of a storm. Our Storm Damaged Trees program is designed to encourage tree plantings on both public and private property. The program includes consultation with our district forester as well as access to cost-share funds for a replacement tree. More...
Better Soil = Better Health, for Plants & People
Soil health is in the hands of farmers. This was the key takeaway from the 2020 Project GROW Winter Workshop, hosted by the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District on December 3. Most of the speakers were virtual, but the information on how to improve soil health and profitability were real and applicable for the nearly 100 people gathered in-person and online.

We're Listening.
Local decisions & actions for Beaver Creek Watershed impairments

A group of community members began meeting in December 2020 to discuss the Water Quality Management Plan that will be implemented in the Beaver Creek watershed. Based on the recommendations of this stakeholders group, the NRD will apply for additional federal funding to make conservation practices more accessible to producers who farm in the watershed with the goal of improving water quality in the area. More...
NRD Recognized by Rainwater Basin Joint Venture
Nebraska's wetlands are a valuable resource when it comes to protecting groundwater quality and quantity. They also provide essential habitat for millions of birds and other wildlife each year. The Rainwater Basin Joint Venture (RWBJV) promotes the health of Nebraska's wetlands through a variety of programs and projects, some of which the NRD has participated in and supported. The organization recently recognized the Upper Big Blue NRD with its 2021 Conservation Partner Stewardship Award. More...
More NRD News & Events
Parting Shot...
Winter sunrise over Pioneer Trails Recreation Area, captured in January by NRD Projects Department Manager Jack Wergin.