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Satellite and yield data identify unprofitable acres

January 23, 2020 - Matt McIntosh

Whether it’s a house, hobby, or piece of machinery, there’s just something special about investing in a proverbial money-pit.

Like a combine that requires frequent and costly repairs, though, land that consistently doesn’t pay for itself is a major issue for some farmers.

Identify unprofitable field areas

At a recent agricultural conference in Ontario, Canada (called the SouthWest Agricultural Conference) American researchers from Michigan State University (MSU) identified how a combination of satellite imaging and accumulated yield data allows them to identify unprofitable field areas across millions of acres in the Midwestern United States.

Triad of technologies

In his presentation to conference attendees, Basso used the term “unstable yield” when referring (generally) to acres that consistently drain financial resources. A triad of technologies are employed to determine whether each part of a given field are stable or not:

 

  1. Thermal satellite imaging – to indicate whether crop transpiration is occurring, and where plants are starved for water.
  2. Reflective satellite imaging – Using NASA technology to look closer at plant health.
  3. Historical yield data – to see accumulated on-the-ground results, and compare each area with those surrounding it.

Read full article at "Future Farming".