Episode Details

NASA has connected data about the Earth's surface since 1972. One of the first applications was for agriculture. Alyssa Whitcraft, Executive Director of NASA Acres grew up in the wine industry at her family's property, Whitcraft Winery, located in Santa Barbara California.

Her goal is to make it easier for people and organizations to use satellite data to improve agriculture. Alyssa explains how different types of satellites including polar-orbiting and geostationary collect information that can be calibrated against crop-specific data to develop predictive models. Farmers can use these models to identify viral, fungal, bacterial, water, and nutrient stressors and forecast harvest.

While this technology is being used in commodity crops today, there is a huge opportunity for specialty crops.

• 129: The Efficient Vineyard Project
• 199: NASA Satellites Detect Grapevine Diseases from Space
• 233: The Gap Between Space and Farm: Ground Truthing Satellite Data Models
• Alyssa Whitcraft
• Group on Earth Observations Global Agricultural Monitoring Initiative (GEOGLAM)
• NASA Acres
• NASA Harvest
• Whitcraft Winery

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[00:00:00]

[00:00:04] Beth Vukmanic: NASA has collected data about the earth surface since 1972, One of the first applications was for agriculture. Welcome to sustainable wine growing with the vineyard team, where we bring you the latest in science and research for the wine industry. I'm Beth. Vukmanic executive director. Since 1994 vineyard team has brought you the latest science-based practices, experts, growers, and wine industry tools through both in-field and online education, so that you can grow your business. Please raise a glass with us as we cheers to 30 years.

[00:00:39] And today's podcast Craig Macmillan, critical resource manager at Niner wine estates with long time sip certified viney