The USDA and NASA are teaming up to improve agricultural data and help farmers make better-informed decisions.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman signed a memorandum of understanding establishing cooperation on satellite observations, geospatial analysis, and statistical methods.
The partnership will support USDA’s efforts to modernize its data systems, including improving estimates of crop acreage and yields.
Officials say combining NASA’s Earth observation technology with USDA’s agricultural expertise could also improve understanding of crop conditions and natural hazards.
Rollins says American farmers deserve access to the latest technology, adding that the partnership could create new research opportunities and improve profitability across agriculture.
Isaacman says NASA’s advanced sensing and analytical capabilities can strengthen information available to farmers and ranchers while advancing American science and competitiveness.
The agreement may also cover remote sensing, predictive modeling, machine learning, and other emerging technologies as the agencies identify future priorities.
