The seven color image above shows a classified image of a small cotton field in North Alabama. The grower had changed from an old sprayer to a John Deere 4710. This sprayer was set up to strattle 4 rows of cotton versus two with the old sprayer. The driver had to adjust to the new sprayer and in the process damaged some of the cotton in the field early in the season.
       The first picture from the top shows one wheel track of the sprayer. To the left, four rows over, is the other wheel track. Driving over the cotton plants early in the season has caused the plants to be behind in growth compared to the other cotton plants.
       The second picture from the top shows the end rows of the field. The picture is taken S-SE. Obviously in the end rows cotton plants will be damaged because of the sprayer turning around into the next lane. However, additional rows were damaged.
       The third picture shows the damaged plants in the first lane of the sprayer in this field. Obviously this was a weaker area in the field, but the sprayer has damaged quite a bit of these plants too.
       Even though the damage took place early in the season, the cotton will not be able to fully recover or compensate for the damage caused by the sprayer. Obviously, this damage is going to result in reduced yields.
       The problem presented above is relative easy to catch in the field. However, other problems relating to fertilizers, nematodes, spreader buggies, diseases, etc..., are easier to catch when a grower can look at a complete set of classified images of all his fields. It will give the grower the opportunity to see big patterns without having to rely on scouts or spend the time in the field. It can reduce time and increase efficiency for the grower. He can catch much easier problems that effect multiple fields. It will also be much easier to the grower to evaluate management decisions he has taken in the past and adjust future crop management decisions.

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