Nebraska Farmer Joins NASA Team to Boost Crop Innovation

Roric Paulman is bringing space-age technology down to earth on his farm near Sutherland, Nebraska, and the work could change how America grows food.

Paulman just became Nebraska's representative on the NASA Acres Farm Innovation Ambassador Team, a national program that connects farmers directly with NASA scientists and satellite technology. Instead of researchers developing tools in isolation and hoping farmers will use them, this program flips the script by keeping growers in the driver's seat from day one.

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln's Digital Farming Lab will support Paulman's work through hands-on research at his west-central Nebraska operation. Together, they'll focus on increasing nitrogen use efficiency in corn, which means growing more food while reducing fertilizer waste and environmental impact.

"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."

Nebraska brings serious credentials to this partnership. The state has a long track record of farmer-driven innovation in precision agriculture, where technology meets traditional farming know-how.

Guillermo Balboa, who leads the Digital Farming Lab, sees this as a perfect match. "Nebraska has a strong history of producer-driven innovation in precision and digital agriculture," he said. "It reflects the kind of collaboration that helps move innovation from research to on-farm impact."

The Ripple Effect

This partnership matters far beyond one Nebraska farm. NASA Acres uses satellite observations to help farmers make better decisions about when to plant, irrigate, and harvest. By testing these tools under real farming conditions, Paulman's work will help refine technologies that could benefit growers across the country.

The program already operates in Kansas, Illinois, and New York, creating a growing network of farmers who share what works and what doesn't. When farmers from different regions compare notes, solutions get better faster.

Alyssa Whitcraft, executive director of NASA Acres, explained the philosophy: "FIAT is built around the idea that farmers should help shape the technologies and tools intended to serve them."

The approach addresses a real need in American agriculture. Farmers face mounting pressure to produce more food for a growing population while using water, fertilizer, and other resources more efficiently. Satellite technology can provide insights that help meet both goals, but only if the tools actually work in muddy boots and dusty fields.

In July, Paulman will join fellow Farm Innovation Ambassadors from across the country in Maryland for the program's first in-person meeting. They'll share experiences, identify priorities, and strengthen collaborations that advance practical digital agriculture solutions nationwide.

American farmers are proving that the future of agriculture isn't about choosing between tradition and innovation but about combining the best of both.