Smart Grazing with Drones and Satellites
This interactive map is a tool to help make better decisions about where and when cattle should graze. Use the layer controls on the map to explore different data types. Below is a summary of how we are using technology to improve grazing management.
Click around the map to explore different areas and see how landscape position affects grass productivity!
Download PDF Maps
What We're Doing
How can we use drones and satellites to compliment traditional assessments to help ranchers make better decisions about pasture management.
Why Use Technology?
Walking or riding a pasture is an important part of managing it, but you can't see every inch of it:
- Drones take super detailed photos showing exactly what's happening right now.
- Satellites show us patterns over many years - which areas are consistently good or poor.
- Rangeland Health Assessments and Ecological Outcome Verification assessments will be completed to ground truth the imagery data for a complete picture.
Topography Matters
We account for the landscape when measuring productivity:
- Low spots (valleys, flat areas) tend to have more grass and stay green longer because water flows downhill and collects there.
- High spots (hilltops) usually have less grass and dry out first.
- In-between areas show mixed results.
Cattle naturally prefer these more productive low-lying areas as well.
Our Simple 2-Step Plan
Step 1: Capture Data Before Cattle Arrive (June 2025)
A drone flies over and maps everything in detail. We compare this with 6 years of satellite data from June and July to establish a "starting point" for what's normal for each area. The RHA and EOV assessments will be completed and we will explore how the data can be used together.
Step 2: Watch for Changes Over Time
We continue to use drones and satellites to detect changes, allowing us to focus our ground visits on areas showing big shifts and adjust grazing plans based on what we learn.
What You'll See on the Interactive Map
- Aerial Photos: Like Google Earth but much more detailed.
- Elevation Map: Raw elevation values showing landscape features.
- Landscape Position: Highlights hilltops vs. valleys vs. slopes.
- Productivity Map: Shows grass growth (Green = good, Red = poor).
The Goal
The goal is to use technology to make smarter decisions about where to move cattle, which areas need rest, how many cattle an area can handle, and when problems are starting. Instead of guessing, we'll have data to guide our choices and track whether our decisions are working, with the goal of being scalable across many acres.
