Researchers Tracked Winter Manure Spreading With Satellites
A new satellite tool identifies winter manure spreading that can cause water pollution in Wisconsin's watersheds.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Organic Food
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Should local regulators use satellite technology to monitor and enforce agricultural waste spreading rules?
In August 2026, researchers published an analysis detailing a new open-source satellite tool designed to detect manure spreading on frozen ground. The technology, which monitors activity in Wisconsin, helps identify agricultural practices that can lead to significant water pollution.
Why it matters
Spreading manure on snow-covered or frozen ground prevents soil from absorbing necessary nutrients, which results in harmful runoff. This tool provides a method for monitoring these practices that threaten water quality in vulnerable areas.
The tool utilizes imagery from Landsat and Sentinel-2 satellites, which provide pixel sizes between 10 and 30 meters. Researchers identified 1,094 instances of waste spreading, with 66.6% occurring within impaired watersheds.
The players
Environmental Law & Policy Center
This organization advocates for environmental protection and public health across the Midwest region.
University of Wisconsin
This institution conducts wide-ranging agricultural and environmental research to address regional challenges.
The details
The model uses the Google Earth Engine to process satellite wavelengths to identify manure applications on snow, with ground-level verification performed by local teams. This project, led by the University of Wisconsin and the Environmental Law & Policy Center, aims to assist watershed groups in tracking runoff risks.
Timeline
1972: Landsat began capturing data on the U.S. land surface.
2022: Stanford University developed a similar manure-tracking model.
2024-2026: Researchers monitored winter manure spreading in Wisconsin.
Jan 1 - March 19: Michigan enforces a prohibition on manure spreading.
August 2026: The study was published in Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment.
Culture Shift
This project builds upon the 2022 Stanford University satellite-based manure detection model by scaling the technology for ongoing use in Wisconsin. It reflects a growing societal and technological shift toward using open-source satellite data to improve agricultural environmental oversight.
Residents in Wisconsin may see increased monitoring efforts by local watershed groups using this satellite tool to address water quality concerns. These efforts could lead to more localized data regarding runoff issues, potentially influencing future agricultural management decisions in the region.
The takeaway
Advancements in satellite technology are providing local communities with new tools to hold large-scale agricultural operations accountable for environmental runoff. Interested residents can support their local watershed groups by participating in verification efforts that confirm satellite findings from public roads.
What happens next
The researchers plan to release tutorials for watershed groups and other organizations to implement the tracking model in their own regional monitoring efforts.
Further reading
Learn more about sustainable farming practices in the Organic Food section.
More information
Access more information about the satellite model on the Environmental Law & Policy Center website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Detroit Free Press.
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Should local regulators use satellite technology to monitor and enforce agricultural waste spreading rules?
