Regional crop and irrigation monitoring: some examples of (new) opportunities

Satellite images are used since long for agricultural monitoring at different spatial scales: from continental, national to regional and even field level. Combined with agro-meteorological data and simulation models they constitute powerful decision support tools for agriculture throughout the world. Some examples at different scales and domains are presented.
In Burkina Faso, free MODIS time series of coarse resolution vegetation indices (NDVI), phenological and meteorological data are combined in a multiple regression analysis for early yield warning in the cotton industry. Using a limited amount of data, it allows a decent yield forecasting more than a month before harvest. Time series of ERS radar images are analysed to monitor water intakes on the irrigated perimeter of Tadla (Morocco). The back-scatter intensity gives a clear indication of the top soil moisture state, permitting irrigation managers a regional monitoring of the irrigation water distribution and a guidance in the water allocation pricing. Actually in Belgium, and soon to be exported elsewhere, very-high resolution imagery (SPOT-5 Take5) are used to observe crop canopy development (fAPAR, fCover) on field level. Either by curve-fitting functions or assimilating these satellite derived data in existing crop growth models, improved and spatially more detailed forecasting systems are being developed.
Although mostly still in the domain of applied research, the new availability of high spatial and temporal resolution imageries such those that will provide the Sentinel satellites paves the way to a growing number of operational end users.