SUTHERLAND, Neb. — More than 110 producers, agricultural technology leaders, researchers and public-sector partners gathered Aug. 25 at Paulman Farms near Sutherland for “Dirt, Data, Decisions,” a producer-focused event designed to connect people working on solutions for nitrogen and irrigation management in Nebraska.
Conceived and organized by Roric Paulman, producer and owner of Paulman Farms, the event combined 32 rapid-fire talks with informal conversations and networking. Speakers represented agricultural technology companies, startups, the University of Nebraska, state agencies, and commodity organizations.
“This day was about more than technology. It was about creating the network we need to solve challenges and build opportunities for Nebraska agriculture,” Paulman said.
Discussions throughout the day centered on five themes: water management, precision nitrogen management, turning agricultural data into better decisions, on-farm validation and technology adoption and building a more connected agricultural innovation network.
The working-farm setting was central to the event. Paulman Farms serves as a site for testing and evaluating agricultural technologies, giving participants an opportunity to discuss not only what new tools can do, but how they perform under real production conditions and whether they deliver value to producers.
Paulman serves as the Nebraska ambassador with NASA Acres’ Farmer Innovation and Ambassador Team, supported through research collaboration with Guillermo Balboa, research assistant professor at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Agronomy and Horticulture. Paulman also serves as a long-time collaborator with the UNL Testing Ag Performance Solutions program — led by Chris Proctor, Extension Professor — which brings producers, researchers, Extension, and industry together to test agricultural technologies and management strategies under real-world conditions.
Presentations covered topics such as irrigation technologies, soil and crop sensing, precision nitrogen management, remote sensing, artificial intelligence, robotics, on-farm research, agricultural startups, biochar, ethanol and carbon intensity and water stewardship. Speakers repeatedly returned to the importance of field validation, economic value, reliable support and producer trust.
University speakers highlighted digital agriculture initiatives, TAPS, precision nitrogen management, on-farm research, artificial intelligence, the Spurs, NFARMS and biochar research. The event also brought together leaders from Nebraska agriculture, government, the university and private industry, creating opportunities for conversations across organizations. The university supported the event in cooperation with Paulman Farms and industry partners. University leadership, faculty, researchers and Extension personnel contributed presentations and helped with event logistics.
The day concluded with an early look at the ONE RED Ag Data Bank & Grants Program. The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment described the Nebraska-specific program, supported by approximately $195 million in funding, as a producer-driven approach to improving nutrient management, irrigation management through adoption of precision agricultural technologies.
The program includes incentives related to agricultural data reporting, nitrogen management, soil health and water measurement, as well as support for eligible irrigation and nutrient-management technologies. The discussion illustrated how many of the technologies and approaches presented earlier in the day could connect with future opportunities for Nebraska producers.
For Paulman, the value of “Dirt, Data, Decisions” extended beyond any single technology or program. By bringing growers, companies, researchers, agencies and other agricultural partners together on a working farm, the event created a setting to exchange ideas, identify common challenges and develop relationships that can continue beyond the event.
