NASA Satellites Keep Watch on U.S. Food Supply

Since 2008, the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, or NASS, has drawn on Landsat data to monitor dozens of crops in the lower 48 states as part of NASS's Cropland Data Layer program. The Cropland Data layer uses Landsat and similar sensors to identify what crop is growing where in the country. Separately, NASS uses NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments aboard the Aqua and Terra satellites to monitor daily vegetation health and growth stage, all indicators of crop yield. Music: "Downloading Landscapes" by Andrew Michael Britton [PRS] and David Stephen Goldsmith [PRS]. Published by Atmosphere Music Ltd [PRS]. Video Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Data from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service Cropland Data Layer. Matthew R. Radcliff (USRA): Lead Producer Kel Elkins (USRA): Animator Horace Mitchell (NASA/GSFC): Animator Jessica Merzdorf (Telophase): Writer Rani Gran (NASA/GSFC): Writer Jefferson Beck (USRA): Narrator