Summary:

Remote sensing technologies provide an important tool to aid site-specific management of crops. Remote sensing has the potential to provide real-time analysis of the attributes of a growing crop that can assist in making timely management decisions that affect the outcome of the current crop. However, like other precision agriculture technologies, the information gained from remote sensing is more meaningful when combined with other available data. For this reason, even historical photographs can take on new value. Incorporating remote sensing into your management activities requires discipline and will require new management techniques and technical skills. To be successful, remote sensing must be accompanied by a good conventional scouting program and the benefits of the improvements in management must outweigh the cost of the technology as well as the additional time spent in management.