Remote sensing can be defined as obtaining information about an object by a sensor that is not in physical contact with the object. Remote sensing is used throughout USDA because the wide aerial coverage and geographic detail of satellite images and aerial photography often provides a comprehensive view of the landscape not attainable through ground-based observations or sensors. Examples of USDA remote sensing applications include:

• The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) uses aerial photography and satellite imagery to delineate farm boundaries within major domestic crop producing areas. These data help NASS staff estimate crop production and acreage within the United States and assess the condition of these crops.

• On a broader spatial scale, the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) uses satellite data to provide estimates of crop production and conditions in major international crop producing areas. These data help analysts diagnose food surpluses and deficits in countries world wide, and thus help USDA continuously assess the balance of global agricultural trade and identify those countries requiring food aid.

• The Farm Service Agency (FSA), in conjunction with FAS, uses remote sensing to provide an early warning of potential domestic crop disasters. In addition to disaster monitoring, FSA uses aerial photography and satellite imagery to map farm fields and to monitor compliance with farm program rules.

• As a partner in the National Cooperative Soil Survey program, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) uses aerial photography and digital orthoimagery to conduct soil surveys. NRCS also uses remote sensing data to accomplish such tasks as natural resource inventories, conservation planning, and wetland delineations.

• Similar to NRCS, the Forest Service (FS) employs remote sensing to manage natural resources. Specifically, FS uses remote sensing for such purposes as assessing the extent and health of the nation’s forests, diagnosing changes in land use patterns and water quality and quantity, and supporting wildfire detection and suppression efforts.

• The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) uses remote sensing to accomplish basic and applied research. Many ARS projects focus on improving and implementing the remote sensing techniques used operationally by the agencies identified above.