Satellite crop survey

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34127, 13 April 1976, Page 27

Satellite crop survey

If experiments in the United States prove successful, much of the guesswork will soon be taken out of estimating world food production.

Two satellites, flying more than 500 miles high, will focus their attention this northern summer on wheat crops on North America's great plains. The satellites, Landstat I and 11, cover the plains as part of their world circuit every nine days. In 115-mile wide swathes they scan and record light reflected from the earth's surface.

The harvest information obtained from the satellites will be recorded at the Space Centre at Houston, Texas, with the aid of a new type of computer developed by the Goodyear Aerospace Corporation. Known as Staran, the computer differs from conventional computers by performing its operations in parallel — executing thousands of operations simultaneously. To put this information to

I its ultimate use in crop prediction. three United States ' agencies have joined forces lin a programme called Lacie — the long area crop inventory experiment. The programme is to continue for several growing seasons. If successful, it will be expanded to other crops and other parts of the world on an experimental basis. By accurately predicting crop results, this type of programme could assist the United States and other countries in making agricultural marketing decisions. It could also give warning of the spread of crop diseases and insect infestations. It could give early advice when crop shortfalls are expected and provide production estimates for international organisations