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Click here for the Chemigation Permit Application
**Please note that application is not an online form
Farmers planning to chemigate during the current growing season must renew chemigation permits by June 1st to meet state deadline requirements.
Chemigation is the application of any chemical, fertilizer or pesticide through an irrigation system. To legally chemigate in Nebraska, an operator must be certified to apply chemicals and obtain a chemigation permit from their local NRD.
An irrigation system that has not been renewed prior to the June 1st deadline cannot apply chemicals through the system until a new permit is obtained. Chemigation renewal permits cost $20. New chemigation permits cost $50, and the applicant cannot use the system until it passes a mandatory inspection.
Applicants must have a certified applicator's signature on the application form. In order to be certified, a person must complete a chemigation safety course and pass an exam once every four years.
If chemigating is necessary, on short notice, emergency permits can be obtained at a cost of $250. Please allow 2 working days for emergency permits.
Approximately 2,156 chemigation permits were approved by the LENRD in 2024.
Chemigation Permit Application
LENRD Chemigation Rules
Chemigation Site Inspection Requirements
The Lower Elkhorn NRD does an on-site inspection of the antipollution equipment for every new chemigation permit, and inspects renewal permits once every three years.
Click here to view a PDF of the LENRD Chemigation Site Inspection Requirements
Chemigation Cost Share
The Chemigation Equipment Cost-Share Program is a one-time cost assistance program for equipment needed for chemigation (split applications) of fertilizer through irrigation systems. This program is designed to spoon-feed fertilizer to the crop at the optimum time, reduce fertilizer losses and reduce the risk of nitrogen leaching to the groundwater.
Click here to view the Chemigation Equipment Cost Share Program Packet
Online Training and Testing
2025 Training Dates - in person training has ended
Attention Chemigators: Please go to the UNL water page, by clicking on this link. About half-way down the page are the written instructions and video instructions to help with navigation.
You must complete the video verifications for Chapter 1-9 before the Final Chemigation exam will open.
Once you complete the final Chemigation exam an email will be sent to NDEE. NDEE will then issue your Chemigation license by mail.
Check Chemigation Certification Status
Nebraska Chemigation Act
The goal of the Nebraska Chemigation Act is to protect the groundwater and surface waters of Nebraska from contamination by fertilizers or pesticides. To accomplish this goal, the Act provided the legal requirements for the future use of chemigation as a means of nutrient or pesticide application.
The Nebraska Department of Environment Energy developed and implemented the rules and regulations necessary for irrigators to utilize the practice. Under the NDEE rules, Nebraska's Natural Resources Districts were given the responsibility to manage the chemigation permit component that ensures that proper safety equipment is present and functioning properly.