NASA Acres Newsletter: October Recap

OCTOBER SPOTLIGHT

Fighting Drought in Texas Cotton Country

A recent NASA Earth Observatory Image of the Day feature takes a closer look at drought in the Texas High Plains, what it means for the farmers experiencing it firsthand, and how NASA Acres is engaging with producers to better understand where NASA Earth science can help address these challenges.

“This is the first year that we’ve had cotton completely die.”

That’s how NASA Acres Farm Innovation Ambassador Team (FIAT) member Lacy Cotter-Vardeman describes the impact of this year’s drought on her farm.

The Earth Observatory feature, “Fighting Drought in Texas Cotton Country,” uses Landsat imagery to show the stark difference between conditions around Lubbock in September 2025 and September 2026 — while telling the story of what those changes mean on the ground for farmers and communities across the region.

The story features perspectives from Lacy and fellow Texas FIAT member Tillery Timmons-Sims, who helps lead the Sandhills Area Research Association, and discusses the growing pressure on the High Plains aquifer, as well as the increasingly urgent need for information and solutions that can help producers adapt.

LATEST SCIENCE

New Research Uses Remote Sensing to Improve Cover Crop Nitrogen Management

NASA Acres RD&E partners Drs. Alison Thieme and W. Dean Hively are coauthors of a new study published in Precision Agriculture exploring how satellite and UAV imagery can help farmers better estimate cover crop nitrogen content and carbon-to-nitrogen ratios. Working with researchers from Penn State and USDA, the team developed predictive models and a user-friendly online tool that translates remote sensing data into practical insights to help farmers make more informed fertilizer decisions, reduce costs, and improve nutrient management.

WHAT'S NEW AT NASA ACRES

Landsat Science Team: Helping Farmers Monitor Water Use

Landsat Science Team member and NASA Acres partner Dr. Yun Yang of Cornell University is featured in a new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landsat article highlighting her work to help farmers better monitor and manage water use.

NASA Acres Connects with Future Agricultural Leaders at National FFA Convention

NASA Acres was on the ground at the National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis in October, connecting with thousands of students and educators from across the country to showcase how NASA satellite data and Earth observation technology are advancing American agriculture.

Representing NASA Acres at the NASA booth, Program Support Specialist Jacob Orser and Farm Innovation Ambassador Team (FIAT) Liaison Faith Riensche introduced visitors to the practical applications of satellite data in agriculture and the opportunities these technologies offer the next generation of farmers, researchers, and agricultural professionals.

NASA ACRES IN THE NEWS

KCBD: NASA partners with farmers on remote-sensing crop technology

Texas news station KCBD recently featured NASA Acres Farm Innovation Ambassador Team (FIAT) members Tillery Sims and Conner Watts, highlighting how NASA Acres is working directly with farmers to develop practical satellite-based tools, including an upcoming app designed to help producers.

“This app will help farmers have more tangible data,” Watts told KCBD. "It’s processed in the app that’s very user-friendly, easy to use, easy to read. And so, it could really help farmers make more, better decisions throughout the growing season."

PRODUCER SPOTLIGHT

John Reifsteck: Farm Innovation Ambassador Team (FIAT) Member

NASA Acres' Producer Spotlight series introduces the farmers and ranchers of our Farm Innovation Ambassador Team (FIAT), sharing their stories, experiences, and perspectives on the future of American agriculture.

An Illinois farmer with deep roots in agriculture and a lifelong interest in technology, John Reifsteck brings decades of experience and a forward-looking perspective to FIAT.

Long before the internet became part of everyday life, Reifsteck was already exploring how it could transform agriculture. Today, more than three decades later, he's helping shape another technological frontier by working to bring NASA satellite data and Earth observation tools into the hands of American farmers.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Meet Faith Riensche, NASA Acres FIAT Liaison

NASA Acres welcomed Faith Riensche this summer as the Farm Innovation Ambassador Team (FIAT) Liaison. She also serves as a research assistant and staff in the Ciampitti Lab at Purdue University.

Faith recently graduated from Stanford University, where she completed a B.S. (’25) and an M.S. (’26) in Earth Systems, with a focus on sustainable food and agriculture. Her academic background builds on a lifelong connection to farming as a sixth-generation member of her family's corn and soybean farm in Iowa.

To connect with Faith, contact her at riensche@purdue.edu.

OPPORTUNITIES

Postdoctoral Researcher, EMIT

Join the interdisciplinary EMIT team to advance imaging spectroscopy data products for the mission's next phase and support its growing science community. The research plan will be tailored to align mission priorities with the selected candidate's expertise and interests.

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Data Scientist IV, EMIT & AVIRIS

JPL's Machine Learning and Instrument Autonomy group is seeking a data scientist with experience applying machine learning to imaging spectroscopy. The role focuses on translating research into practical products, initially supporting the development of new trace gas data products. Contact Phil Brodrick with questions.

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Earth Action Postdoctoral Researchers

JPL is recruiting multiple cohorts of postdoctoral researchers to advance Earth science applications and decision-support tools. Opportunities include developing science-based products, collaborating with partners on real-world solutions, and expanding the use of NASA Earth observations to inform decision-making.

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