Grain Weevil Turns Innovation into Impact for Farm Safety

Sarpy County – What started as a simple challenge from a farmer has grown into a technology-driven company working to solve one of agriculture’s most dangerous problems.

A few years ago, a farmer friend asked a question that would change everything: What if no one ever had to enter a grain bin again?

For Chad Johnson, co-founder of Grain Weevil, that question became a mission.

“Neither my son Ben nor I had ever been in a grain bin,” Johnson said. “We had to learn why people go in, what the risks are, and how in the world you build a robot to do that work.”

Grain bins are among the most hazardous environments in agriculture. Farmers face risks including entrapment, falls, and long-term health conditions. Across the U.S., grain bins are entered millions of times each year—and too often, those risks lead to serious injury or death.

Grain Weevil set out to change that.

From Classroom Project to Commercial Innovation

The idea didn’t begin as a business—it started as an educational project.

Johnson was working to develop programs that teach students workforce skills through innovation. As part of that effort, his son built a robot capable of following a color and streaming video. When a local farmer saw the prototype, he saw something more.

“That’s when he said, ‘If you can build that, can you build something to keep us out of the grain bin?’” Johnson said.

The team began experimenting in 2019 and built their first working prototype in early 2020. What started as a side project—built on kitchen tables and in college housing—quickly gained interest from farmers.

By 2021, Grain Weevil officially launched as a business.

Solving a Complex Challenge

Developing a robot capable of operating inside a grain bin poses significant technical challenges, from unstable grain surfaces to the risk of dust explosions.

“We didn’t know anything about grain, manufacturing, or running a business,” Johnson said. “So, we made sure we found people who did.”

That mindset—being open to learning and surrounding themselves with the right expertise—became a key factor in their growth.

Today, Grain Weevil has grown to a team of 14 employees and has deployed more than 100 robots, with plans to scale production significantly in the coming year.

Support from NBDC and Nebraska’s Innovation Ecosystem

As the company expanded, Grain Weevil connected with the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC), beginning with participation in an SBIR Roadshow focused on federal funding opportunities.

“That helped us connect with the right people and understand how to approach the process,” Johnson said.

Through that support, the company successfully secured both Phase I and Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants from the National Science Foundation—critical funding that helped advance development and production.

“That non-dilutive funding through programs like SBIR can make a world of difference in a small business,” said Kevin Thompson, Innovation Business Consultant at NBDC. “It’s wonderful when we get to see that research developed into projects that make it into the world, and in this case, into a grain bin near you. I’m elated to see how far they have come, but I’m even more excited to see what’s next in this story—and they aren’t even limited by the sky.”

Johnson also credits Nebraska’s broader innovation ecosystem, including NBDC, The Combine, Invest Nebraska, and other partners, for helping the company navigate challenges.

“We always knew there were people we could call,” he said. “That network made a big difference.”

Built in Nebraska, Powered by Community

Grain Weevil’s location in Nebraska places it at the center of U.S. agriculture, within a day’s drive of most of the nation’s stored grain supply.

But Johnson says the real advantage is the people.

“There’s a mindset here, people can figure things out,” he said. “That problem-solving approach has been huge for us.”

The company has also benefited from strong community support, from local robotics programs that helped develop talent to organizations that helped amplify their story.

“Our community has helped us tell our story,” Johnson said. “That’s been critical to our growth.”

Looking Ahead

With more than 100 robots deployed and plans to scale production, Grain Weevil is focused on expanding its impact. The company is also exploring new frontiers, including early testing of its technology with NASA in simulated lunar environments.

The company is expanding into new materials beyond grain, advancing its technology, and continuing to scale production.

But the goal remains clear.

“The more robots we get out there, the bigger impact we can have,” Johnson said. “It’s about improving safety and helping farmers.”

From a garage-built prototype to a growing ag-tech company, Grain Weevil demonstrates how innovation, collaboration, and support from partners like NBDC can turn a simple idea into a solution with life-saving potential.