October 28, 2003
Australian farmers are trialling a
satellite-based pasture monitoring system which dramatically
improves their ability to make informed farm management
decisions.
Utilising
the MODIS sensor in the Terra satellite, Australia's 'Pastures
From Space' consortium can now deliver much more detailed data
relating to pasture growth rates (PGRs), says
CSIRO Livestock Industries' Mr
Gonzalo Mata.
"We can now
provide farmers with 16-times more detail about their pastures,"
Mr Mata says.
"Instead of
providing estimated PGR's for entire shires, we can now offer
farmers information at the paddock level for any area over six
hectares."
This
information is delivered to farmers via a new website (www.pasturesfromspace.csiro.au),
which allows them to zoom-in on an image to access PGR
information about a specific area.
The
satellites' MODIS sensor remotely estimates PGRs which are then
validated against on-ground measurements.
"The
satellites' improved image resolution capabilities means that
much of the 'noise' contained in previous satellite images of
paddocks - such as bushes, clouds and lakes - can be removed to
provide more accurate information," Mr Mata says.
Subsequent
management decisions about grazing rotations, feed budgeting,
fertilizer application and other 'precision agriculture'
techniques can be made with greater accuracy.
The trial
involves 60 farmers throughout Western Australia's Mediterranean
climate zone.
Farmers who
are not taking part in the trial can also access the new website
to view PGR maps and zoom-in on selected areas, but cannot
access specific farm details.
The
satellites measure solar radiation reflected from the Earth's
surface to create an image.
The Pastures
from Space consortium has developed an accurate method of
estimating PGR from these images. Satellite estimates are then
validated by on-ground measurements.
Other
members of the consortium include the
Western Australian
Department of Agriculture and the
Western Australian
Department of Land Information. |