Satellite technology revolutionizes how farmers manage nitrogen fertilizer

LINCOLN, Neb. — Farmers in central Nebraska are turning to satellite technology to optimize fertilizer use and improve water quality, a move that could transform agricultural practices in the region.

Lon Bohn, a local farmer, explained the benefits of the technology, saying, “Real-time in-the-field measurement of nitrate fertilizer usage” is now possible thanks to satellites.

Anthony Seim, another farmer, noted that satellite imagery helps determine the optimal time to apply nitrogen, allowing him to use 25 percent less nitrogen fertilizer

“More security putting the right amount on at the right time,” Seim said.

An 11-county stretch along the Platte River is known for its productive farmland, with a million irrigated acres. The Central Platte Natural Resources District (NRD) has implemented rules to prevent excessive water and fertilizer use. While precision agriculture technology has already improved irrigation, satellite technology is now poised to revolutionize fertilizer application.

“Money saved, it’s better for our groundwater, grows healthier crops too,” Seim said, highlighting the multiple benefits of the technology.

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The initiative is supported by university research and has now lead to a startup called Sentinel Fertigation that uses satellites to provide the real-time data farmer need. This NRD is sharing costs with farmers who adopt the technology.

Lyndon Vogt of the Central Platte NRD said, “The majority of our producers that try it one year we’re seeing them adding additional acres the following year. Probably one of the biggest things to help with water quality since the advent of the pivot.”

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Nebraska Extension now suggests farmers use sensor-based nutrient management in its official recommendations which also includes guidance to scrap fall fertilizer applications and apply most nitrogen fertilizer in-season.

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While some areas of the CPNRD have seen improvements, others face stricter regulations as nitrate levels rise, an issue linked to childhood cancer.

Farmers like Bohn are committed to addressing these challenges. “It’s going to be a slow process,” Bohn said. “It took a long time to get here, it’ll take a long time to get out, but we see technology that actually works.”