Ground Cover Report

What is a ground cover report?

The Ground Cover report shows ground cover maps, ground cover time series and accessory data files on a monthly basis for a property [Lot(s) on Plan], which are generated from satellite imagery. The information in this report can be used to assist in stock and property management decisions:

  • by assessing property ground cover levels
  • by identifying areas of low ground cover
  • to improve property productive capacity and resilience to drought.

What is included in the ground cover report?

  • A Ground Cover report (pdf) containing:
    • ground cover (monthly), minimum ground cover and percentile cover (monthly) for a property [Lot(s) on Plan]. The ground cover map provided is for the month and the year selected. The minimum ground cover map indicates the lowest ground cover for each 30m satellite pixel for the selected Lot(s) on Plan since the early 1990s. A total cover percentile map is also provided for the month and the year selected, which indicates the current cover relative to all same selected month covers from 1990-current. The report also shows a seasonal time series graph (1988 to the present) of percentage ground cover values (total, green, non-green, bare ground) derived from satellite imagery.
  • A lot/plan information file (pdf) containing:
    • monthly ground cover time series graphs (2017 to present) for selected Lot(s) on Plan (or paddocks*), including the percentage area table of each ground cover level within selected Lot(s) on Plan (or paddocks).
  • A data file containing:
    • the seasonal (total, green, non-green, bare ground) cover timeseries data in a CSV file, which can be opened in an Excel spreadsheet.
  • A GeoPDF file containing:
    • georeferenced data that relates an image from the PDF report to coordinates on a map - allowing the user to have some limited mapping functions such as turning map layers on and off, which can be used in applications such as Avenza maps or Adobe Acrobat.

Note: If cloud affects the satellite imagery for the month (which often happens over summer), the system will revert back to the most recent viable image month.

* If ordered through MyForage online mapping tool with a paddock shapefile.

Report sample

 

Subscription option

Periodic subscriptions (1, 2 or 3 months) are available for this report. See here for more information on how to subscribe and unsubscribe.

 

Common questions about ground cover reports

What information will I find in the ground cover report?

For a selected Lot on Plan or adjoining Lots on Plan in Queensland:

  • A map displaying the different levels of ground cover for the month and the year selected by the user and the percentage area for each cover level.
  • A map displaying the lowest ground cover level for each satellite pixel in the selected Lot(s) on Plan since the early 1990s.
  • A total cover percentile map for the month and the year selected (this relates the cover selected in the month of interest to all same month covers from 1990-current).
  • A graph showing the seasonal ground cover percentage values for total, green, non-green and bare ground cover from 1988 to current.
  • A lot/plan information file (pdf) containing monthly ground cover time series graphs (2017 to present) for selected Lot(s) on Plan (or paddocks*), including the percentage area table of each ground cover level within selected Lot(s) on Plan (or paddocks).
  • A data file containing the seasonal cover timeseries data for total, green, non-green, bare ground cover in a CSV file, which can opened in an Excel spreadsheet.

Note: If cloud affects the satellite imagery for the month (which often happens over summer), the system will revert back to the most recent viable image month.

* If ordered through MyForage online mapping tool with a paddock shapefile.

For more details, see the section - FORAGE Report: Ground Cover of the FORAGE User Guide (PDF, 2.8 MB).

  • The report shows where ground cover is below a threshold value ( e.g. < 30%). This can help highlight areas where ground cover is low to assist with ground cover management.

  • These areas are likely to have received the heaviest grazing over time/or in the past and are therefore critical areas to monitor in terms of recovery, particularly after drought.

  • The report also provides an historical comparison of simulated mean ground cover levels and satellite derived ground cover for the selected Lot(s) on Plan. This can help to relate modelled pasture growth to cover measured by satellites to assist with understanding available biomass as a function of cover.

What are the key messages in the ground cover report?

  • The report shows where ground cover is below a threshold value ( e.g. < 30%). This can help highlight areas where ground cover is low to assist with ground cover management through fencing and stock distribution.

  • These areas are likely to have received the heaviest grazing over time/or in the past and are therefore critical areas to monitor in terms of recovery, particularly after drought.

How might a producer use the information in the ground cover report?

  • Identifying and monitoring the more heavily grazed areas of a property or paddock.

  • Implementing management, such as fencing off areas, or spelling to assist in pasture recovery.

Why don’t I get the report for the month I requested?

You can only request a ground cover report that has had a month’s data processed. For example, around the 12th of the month (say April), the previous month (March) should become available for request. Earlier months are available for request also.

If cloud affects the satellite imagery for the month (often happens over summer), the system will revert back to the most recent viable image month.

Last updated: 18 October 2024
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)