NASA's FarmFlux Mission Begins Low-Altitude Research Flights Over Colorado Farmland

NASA's FarmFlux mission conducted low-altitude research flights over farmland near Greeley, Colorado, from October 1 to October 20, 2026, using a Dynamic Aviation A200 aircraft to measure gaseous and particulate emissions from animal feeding operations[13]. These flights represent the first series for the FarmFlux mission, which aims to improve understanding of agricultural emissions[7][13].

Agricultural emissions are a significant and understudied component of Earth's land and atmosphere systems, impacting air quality, climate, and ecosystems[1][8]. The data gathered from these flights will help quantify these emissions and inform future climate policy and sustainable farming practices[4][8]. Understanding these interactions is a primary objective for NASA's Earth Venture Suborbital mission[2][8].

What the records show

The FarmFlux mission is a collaborative effort, jointly led by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, Colorado State University, and Boston University[1][3][7][9]. The mission utilizes a Dynamic Aviation A200 aircraft equipped with more than a dozen sensors[1][3]. These instruments are designed to measure various pollutants, including ozone, methane, ammonia, and particulates, as they rise from croplands and livestock farms[1][3][7]. The measurements specifically target emissions from animal feeding operations[1][3][6]. The mission's overarching goal is to quantify the magnitude and near-source fate of these emissions and characterize their human and environmental controls[8]. Glenn Wolfe of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center leads the mission[9].

The timeline

The initial phase of the FarmFlux mission involved low-altitude research flights over farmland near Greeley, Colorado, starting Thursday, October 1, and concluding Tuesday, October 20, 2026[13]. Following these initial flights, a NASA Dynamic Aviation A200 aircraft is scheduled to conduct further low-flying research over farmland near Amarillo, Texas, from Thursday, October 22, through Monday, November 9, 2026[1][3][6][10][11][12]. The FarmFlux mission also plans additional low-altitude research flights with a NASA P-3 Orion aircraft for the March to July 2027 growing season, focusing on croplands in the U.S. Midwest and California's Central Valley[1][7]. The overall campaign, which will measure agricultural emissions across the United States, was launched with a budget of $15 million in October 2026[7].

What changed and for whom

The FarmFlux mission aims to provide direct, empirical measurements of agricultural emissions, moving beyond prior reliance on rough estimates[6][8]. This shift in data collection methods could significantly change the understanding of agriculture's impact on the atmosphere for climate scientists and researchers[6][8]. The improved data is intended to inform climate policy decisions and support the development of sustainable farming practices, potentially affecting agricultural producers and environmental regulators[4][8]. By closing