Every crop is different! It goes without saying, but grapes are not tomatoes, and tomatoes are not corn. There are hundreds of different kinds of farms, ranging from perennial trees and vines to annual crops producing fruit and vegetables (and that’s not even including livestock and ranching).

Even every farm field is different! Different soils, drainage, and field contours mean that no two examples are alike. Farmers get to know their fields thoroughly, understanding where and how to customize their work to get the best results. They do this by monitoring and measuring their fields and crops.

Each field and specific crop needs to be measured differently to generate useful information that farmers can put to work improving their farms. There is no single method for monitoring crop health. Highly-specialized experts work to deliver these technology solutions to farmers and are a critical component of farming efficiently in California.