The university of nebraska-lincoln national drought mitigation center (ndmc) has a congressionally mandated cooperative agreement with the office of the chief economist

The Department of Agriculture Office of the Chief Economist awarded a $1.28 million cooperative agreement to the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska on September 26, 2025, under the Agricultural and Food Policy Research Centers program (CFDA 10.291) to deliver economic analyses, operational support, and enhancements for the United States Drought Monitor and drought-related programs.

The University of Nebraska, operating through its National Drought Mitigation Center, delivers three categories of deliverables: economic analyses on agricultural water management resilience and impacts to farmers' profitability during drought conditions and water shortages; operational support for data, tools, and products associated with the U.S. Drought Monitor; and enhancements to the U.S. Drought Monitor framework and drought-related programs, tools, and resources. The agreement fulfills a congressionally mandated directive under Section 12512 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 to improve information and tools related to the drought monitor, which supports farmers and ranchers through real-time drought condition information and informs federal agency determinations of eligibility for disaster designations and relief programs. The center also delivers peer-to-peer drought learning networks, maintains a grassland productivity forecasting tool, and provides drought guides for key commodities.

Work is performed in Nebraska. The period of performance runs from September 26, 2025, through September 30, 2026.

The purpose of the agreement is to provide USDA and congress with rapid-response economic analyses and data for policy development and supports section 12512 of the agriculture improvement act of 2018 (the farm bill) by improving the information associated with and tools related to the united states drought monitor (usdm). The usdm supports farmers and ranchers, providing real-time information on existing and developing drought conditions that can reduce risk and increase preparedness. The usdm is also used to by federal agencies to establish eligibility for disaster designations and relief programs which provide direct payments to farmers, ranchers, and producers. Furthermore, the agreement provides direct benefits to farmers and ranchers through activities including peer-to-peer drought learning networks, maintenance of a grassland productivity forecasting tool, and the provision of drought guides for key commodities. Through this agreement, ndmc and OCE will continue to provide information and resources needed by producers, land managers, and policymakers to support yields, profitability, food security, and livelihoods in rural communities. Specific deliverables of this agreement include: 1) economic analyses on agricultural water management resilience and impacts to farmers' profitability during drought conditions and water shortages; 2) operational support for data, tools, and products associated with the usdm; and 3) enhancements to the usdm framework and drought-related programs, tools, and resources.