Cropland Data Layer

A machine learning algorithm is used to interpret readings from satellite-based sensors and CLASSIFY the type of crop or activity that falls in each 30 square meter pixel (a box of fixed size) on the ground. The algorithms are trained on th USDA Farm Services Agency data and other sources of data as sources of "ground truth". It allows us to not only produce a classification, but to assess the accuracy of the classification as well. For commodities, like corn and soybeans, the CDL is highly accurate. The CDL has been produced for national coverage since 2008. Some summary and background about the CDL is available in a number of peer reviewed research papers and presentations