Agricultural runoff is a major contributor to water pollution in the united states, affecting drinking water supplies, local lakes and rivers, and downstream ecosystems such as the gulf of america

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Iowa State University of Science and Technology $591,500 on February 1, 2026, under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI, CFDA 10.310) to develop and test a lab-on-a-drone system for collecting and analyzing water samples from agricultural drainage outlets and streams. The system will carry lightweight sensors to measure nutrients, oxygen levels, and farm chemicals at sampling sites rather than requiring transport to a laboratory. Testing will occur in real agricultural watersheds to track water quality changes over time and compare areas with and without cover crops, providing farmers, watershed managers, and communities with data to evaluate conservation practices and reduce agricultural runoff pollution. The period of performance runs through January 31, 2029, with work performed in Ames, Iowa.

In the midwest, underground drainage pipes installed beneath farm fields quickly carry excess nutrients and farm chemicals into nearby streams, often without being noticed or measured. While practices such as planting cover crops can reduce nutrient losses, their effectiveness varies across landscapes and seasons. At the same time, increased use of herbicides to manage these practices raises concerns about unintended environmental impacts. Monitoring water quality at these drainage outlets is difficult, expensive, and time-consuming using current methods, leaving farmers, communities, and policymakers with limited information to guide decisions that protect both agricultural productivity and water resources. This project will develop and test a new lab-on-a-drone system that can safely and quickly collect and analyze water samples from hard-to-reach locations such as field drainage outlets and narrow streams. Instead of transporting samples back to a laboratory, the drone will carry lightweight sensors that measure nutrients, oxygen levels, and commonly used farm chemicals directly at the site. The system will be tested in real agricultural watersheds to track how water quality changes over time and to compare areas with and without cover crops. By making water quality data easier to collect and more frequent, this project aims to provide farmers, watershed managers, and communities with better tools to evaluate conservation practices, reduce pollution, and protect local and downstream waters. Ultimately, the project supports healthier ecosystems, safer water supplies, and moreeconomically resilient agricultural systems.