By Scout Nelson
Nebraska is joining the NASA Acres Farm Innovation Ambassador Team (FIAT), a national program that helps farmers use satellite data, digital agriculture tools, and on-farm research to improve farming decisions. The program brings together producers, researchers, and agricultural organizations to develop practical solutions that strengthen productivity and long-term sustainability.
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln supports Nebraska’s participation in the program. Research Assistant Professor Guillermo Balboa, who leads the Digital Farming Lab, works with Roric Paulman of Paulman Farms near Sutherland, Nebraska, to connect the state's farming experience with national agricultural innovation efforts. Their work helps strengthen partnerships between researchers and producers while supporting practical solutions for agriculture.
Nebraska enters the program with a strong history of precision agriculture and producer-led innovation. The partnership allows farmers to share field experience while using NASA-supported technology and scientific research to improve crop management and resource use.
“Nebraska has a strong history of producer-driven innovation in precision and digital agriculture,” Balboa said. “Joining NASA Acres FIAT creates an important opportunity to connect Nebraska’s field-based work with a national network focused on practical tools and trusted partnerships. It reflects the kind of collaboration that helps move innovation from research to on-farm impact.”
NASA Acres is supported by NASA’s Earth Science Division and focuses on agriculture and food security in the United States. The program keeps farmers at the center of technology development by combining producer needs with scientific research and satellite information.
Paulman Farms will work closely with the Digital Farming Lab on research designed to improve nitrogen use efficiency in corn. The project continues Nebraska’s leadership in precision farming while testing practical solutions under real farming conditions.
“Early adoption has been at the forefront of our operations,” Paulman said. “Bringing innovative people and technologies together with grounded scientific support is a significant opportunity for U.S. agriculture. Collaboration with UNL is, and will continue to be, a cornerstone of those relationships.”
Farm Innovation Ambassador Team members from across the country will meet in College Park, Maryland, from July 14-16 for the program’s first in-person gathering. The meeting will help participants share ideas, identify producer priorities, and strengthen partnerships that support the future of digital agriculture.
Photo Credit: istock-alenamozhjer
Categories: Nebraska, General