Using
satellite imagery to determine agricultural soil needs is a significant
development to increase cost efficiency. The same focus is needed to ensure
that irrigation needs are met. This should instruct us on where to add
reservoirs, canals and hydroelectric plants and should reduce flood damage.
Satellite imagery uses a scanner to
collect the light reflected off of plants or crops. The different wavelengths
are stored in the scanner and then compiled into different images. When using
satellite imagery, you can determine health, quantity, and location of crops
and resources for farmers by determining the biomass of the crops being
evaluated. (http://www.precisionagriculture.com.au/satellite-imagery.php)
This technology has been used by
Winfield for the past few years to try to locate necessary resources for
farming. Since the world’s population is increasing exponentially, there must
be improved methods to help farmers quickly locate problems with their crops so
they can produce the maximum amount of food. (http://www.satimagingcorp.com/applications/natural-resources/agriculture/)
Often times, it is difficult for farmers
to stay profitable while keeping up with all the industry regulations on
pesticide use and cultivation practices. For this reason, our team is going to
work to develop a plan that will assist Midwest farmers, namely those which are
members of Land O’Lakes, Inc., in maintaining their livelihood by finding
better ways to use these chemicals that will help them save money in the long
run. We are hoping to understand how these farmers think about these
regulations in terms of feasibility and profitability, especially in the times
when commodity prices, such as corn and soybeans, are low. (http://www.reuters.com/article/us-grains-prices-agresource-idUSKCN0X51QA)
Our goal this summer will be to propose
sustainable, economically feasible alternatives to at least one farm that works
with Winfield, with the hopes of using this proposal to extrapolate to other
farms in the same situations. Using satellite imagery to collect data on
farmland, we hope to merge sustainability, grower profitability, and water
optimization in our proposal. In addition, we hope to make this information
useful and actionable for others when we are finished with the internship, so
we can see our plan come to fruition.
Norb
Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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