How Free Satellite Imagery Can Help Farmers Optimize Crop Management

What are remote sensing indices and why do they matter for farmer's crop management?

Remote sensing indices are mathematical formulas that use satellite data to analyze specific aspects of vegetation, soil, and water conditions. These indices help farmers understand their fields better and make informed decisions. Here are three key indices included in the Satellite Imagery Report from OnGeo Intelligence. Learn more about remote sensing indices in our article: The remote sensing indices NDVI, NDMI, and NDWI.

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)

• What it measures: Vegetation health and density by comparing near-infrared (NIR) light (reflected strongly by healthy plants) and red light (absorbed for photosynthesis).
• What NDVI Tells Farmers: Indicates overall crop health and vigor, helps identify areas under stress (e.g., nutrient deficiency, pests, disease), and allows tracking of growth stages. High NDVI generally means healthier vegetation.
• Formula: NDVI = (NIR - Red) / (NIR + Red)

Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI)

• What it measures: Water content within plant leaves, using near-infrared (NIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) light.
• What NDMI Tells Farmers: Helps identify areas experiencing water stress (drought) often before visual symptoms appear, crucial for optimizing irrigation schedules and managing water resources efficiently.
• Formula: NDMI = (NIR - SWIR) / (NIR + SWIR)

Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI)

• What it measures: Primarily changes in water content of vegetation canopies, using near-infrared (NIR) and green light. Often used for identifying surface water bodies as well.
• What NDWI Tells Farmers: Monitors vegetation water stress, can help optimize irrigation efficiency, and track changes in surface water availability within or near fields.
• Formula: NDWI = (Green - NIR) / (Green + NIR) (Note: There are variations of NDWI; ensure this formula aligns with the one used in the report/linked article)

How satellite imagery transforms agriculture practices

Monitoring Crop Health Efficiently

Satellite imagery gives you a regular, objective overview of your fields, allowing for early detection of problems:

• Pinpoint underperforming areas using NDVI maps to investigate potential nutrient issues or pest outbreaks.
• Identify zones affected by disease or stress impacting overall crop vigor.
• Monitor water stress patterns using NDWI or NDMI analysis.
  Early intervention based on these insights improves crop quality, maximizes yield, and minimizes losses.

Optimizing Water Management

Water is a precious resource. Satellite imagery helps farmers use it more effectively:

• Assess soil moisture variability using NDMI to guide irrigation timing and volume, preventing both overwatering and drought stress.
• Plan more precise irrigation schedules based on crop water needs indicated by indices like NDWI.

Enabling Precision Agriculture

Treating entire fields uniformly is often inefficient. Satellite data enables zone-based management:

• Create management zones based on productivity potential revealed by historical or current NDVI maps.
• Apply inputs (fertilizers, pesticides, seeds) at variable rates tailored to each zone’s specific needs, potentially reducing input costs significantly (studies suggest up to 30% savings).
• Increase overall yield by focusing resources where they provide the most benefit.

Why choose OnGeo Intelligence for free satellite imagery for farmers?

While accessing raw free satellite data is possible elsewhere, OnGeo Intelligence makes it practical and actionable for busy farmers:

• Free access & added value: Use code ongeo100 for a free report with AI-enhanced 10m resolution imagery. Crucially, this report includes calculated indices.
• Mobile-friendly platform: Order and review reports directly from your smartphone or tablet while out in the field.
• Clear PDF reports with index analysis: Receive organized, easy-to-interpret PDF reports with images ordered chronologically and graphs showing changes in NDVI, NDMI, and NDWI values over time for your specific area.
• Global coverage: Analyze fields anywhere in the world.
• Included data package: Get visible band channels plus NIR and SWIR bands for optional deeper analysis in desktop GIS software.

See what the sample report looks like or visit the Satellite Imagery Report page for more details.

How to get started with OnGeo Intelligence (It's Easy!)

Generating your free satellite imagery report with key farm indices takes just minutes:

1. Visit the OnGeo Intelligence platform.
2. Go to the order form and easily select your field(s) using the interactive map.
3. Specify the time period you want to analyze.
4. Apply code ongeo100 during checkout to unlock your free report.
5. Receive your comprehensive report (including index graphs) via email, often within minutes!

Watch a step-by-step guide

Satellite imagery is revolutionizing agriculture by providing farmers with actionable insights for their crop management that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and promote sustainability. With platforms like OnGeo Intelligence, accessing this technology has never been easier - or more affordable.

Generate your free report now