In the project “Satellite-based modelling of grassland yield and quality dynamics”, or SatGrass for short, grassland researchers at the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein are working with partners from the field of satellite remote sensing (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna and Vienna University of Technology) and the Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics on a model for estimating yield and quality on Austrian grassland areas. SatGrass is a project funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) within the framework of the Austrian Space Programme (ASAP) and is coordinated by the Austrian Working Group for Grassland and Livestock Farming (ÖAG) and the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein.

To interpret information from satellite observations, it is necessary to collect as much reliable measurement data as possible. Sampling on differently managed grassland areas in the various climate regions of Austria is therefore a prerequisite for the development of yield and quality models and currently forms the focus of the project launched this year.

Since we cannot send employees from the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein and the ÖAG across Austria to collect samples for logistical reasons, we rely on additional partners for comprehensive data collection. The Machinery Ring provides crucial support by offering a dense network of observation sites with approximately 100 grassland farms. Agricultural schools throughout Austria are also important partners, collecting yield data on their fields and thus further improving the predictive power of the models. Sampling is very time-consuming, as data on biomass, quality, plant height, and stand density are collected not only at harvest time but every two weeks to track the development of the plant stand throughout the growing season.

Overview of all locations where data is collected for SatGrass.

Information about the basics and progress can be found on the project homepage .

Further links: FFG project database SatGrass