AboutData sources
PropelMapper’s agricultural maps combine crop classifications, soil surveys, satellite imagery and weather models.
The survey source and the observation made during the visit stay separate.
“I looked at the USDA soil survey before coming out. At the sample point today there is standing water. I photographed it. Soil sample results are still pending.”
USDA NRCS SSURGO was consulted as survey background before the visit.
Standing water was observed and photographed at the sample point during the visit. Soil sample results are pending.
USDA NRCS SSURGO was consulted as survey background before the visit.
Standing water was observed and photographed at the sample point during the visit. Soil sample results are pending.
After your review
USDA NASS classifies land cover from satellite imagery and ground references. We show the leading classified crops and their shares inside a saved field boundary. The grower’s planting records can confirm what was grown; a mapped classification can raise a question to discuss at the visit.
The cited 2025 layer covers the continental United States. Our summary covers the area inside the saved boundary.
CDL is an annual classification. PropelMapper shows a rolling eight-year window. The classification year tells you which planting record it can be compared with.
The classification year belongs beside the crop label and percentage in a report.
A US government work in the public domain; credit USDA NASS.
USDA NRCS maps soil units and links them to tables of soil components and properties. A map unit can contain several soils. We show its symbols, names, field shares and available ratings; the map does not describe a fresh soil sample from every point.
USDA NRCS, SSURGO database description (undated; accessed 2026)
Our soil integration covers the United States. CSR2 applies to Iowa; NCCPI is shown where available.
NRCS maintains the source survey. A downloaded report needs the survey source and retrieval date.
The rated acres and the acres in an average explain how much of the field that rating describes.
A US government work in the public domain; credit USDA NRCS.
We use Sentinel-2 imagery supplied through Microsoft Planetary Computer to calculate NDVI. Differences in the image can help you choose where to walk. They do not identify the cause of a crop problem.
The provider offers worldwide land imagery. A particular field still needs a suitable image after cloud, shadow and snow filtering.
The displayed image date identifies the pass. The latest usable image may be older than the visit, and filtering cannot guarantee that every part of it is clear.
The image date and visit date remain separate in the report, so the reader can tell when each observation was made.
Open-Meteo supplies modeled weather and forecasts, including soil temperature and moisture. These describe model results for the location. They are separate from readings you take during a visit.
The provider offers worldwide coverage; available weather fields depend on the returned model data.
The date and time attached to the weather result let you compare it with the timing of a visit.
A weather result is model context for the visit; an application decision still depends on the actual product label and local requirements.
Mapbox supplies the base map, imagery and terrain under saved field boundaries and observation pins. PropelMapper stores your farm and visit records separately; map requests may still send request metadata to Mapbox.
Basemaps cover the world. Image detail and coverage vary with Mapbox’s sources.
Mapbox controls updates to its imagery. The basemap alone does not establish when a satellite passed over a field.
The visit’s original photos show observations made on site; the base map provides location context.