AN EYE ON THE CROP

Become a better crop scouter with the help of cameras mounted on irrigation pivots

- Tharran Gaines

The best satellites reportedly can discern a softball-size object from several hundred miles away or spot a bicycle in your yard from space. Now a partnership between Valley Irrigation and Israeli-based

Prospera Technologies provides farmers a similar ability to detect issues affecting their crops.

Introduced nearly three years ago, Plant Insights, which was developed through the partnership, can spot a broadleaf weed the size of a quarter in a field or a grasshopper on a corn plant using high-resolution cameras mounted on a Valley Irrigation pivot. Irrigation Insights, another technology developed earlier by Prospera, uses satellite imagery to scout plant health concerns related to water application.