(Sanitized) PROGRAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP68B00724R000200230018-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 8, 2002
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: February 16, 1968
• Content Type: MFR

Approved For Releas4;002/06/13 : CIA-RDP68B00724R000200230018-6
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IDEALIST
IDEA 0112-68
Copy ~, of 7
16 February 1968
25X1A
Program
This program was authorized for the purpose of determin-
ing crop yields and performing soil assessment analysis
through the use of aerial photography of selected agricultural
areas.
25X1A by 1 ORD. At that time three high altitude
soil-Ties were requested to cover areas of sugar cane and rice
near Thibodeaux and Crowley, Louisiana, and a wheat crop
area near Denver, Colorado. Prior to this time low level
photography had been obtained and studies made to determine
the feasibility of estimating crop yields from aerial photos.
For the high altitude U-2 flights a special camera was used
which was provided by The main drawback 25X1A
was the fact that only ten seconds o ilm running time was
available due to the meager amount of the special film avail-
able. The flight over the selected area near Denver was
flown satisfactorily on 30 August. On 1 September the first
flight was flown over the Louisiana areas. On 28 September
and 25 October the Louisiana crop areas were covered again
which fulfilled the 1966 requirements for a three time coverage
of the selected areas. All flights were round robin sorties
25X1 A : out of
1. General: A meeting was held in April 1967 to
outline the test program for this year. At that time the 25X1A
responsibilities for accomplishing this task were assig
ORD had overall responsibility for the entire project.
25X1A as given the responsibility for providing cameras
,
and unloading, and performing preflight. ~ would 25X1A
also develop, process, and P.I. the film and estimate crop
yield. OSA would handle the flight scheduling and coordina-
tion. Nor Dakota was selected as the primary area for
25X1A the tests. Interest in crop estimate was centered
on wheat or this year. A one time look was planned for the
selected site near Denver which was covered in 1966. The
schedule called for photography coverage once a month from
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 25X1A
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May through August. This would cover seedling survival,
general vigor, post-heading assessment, pre-harvest assess-
ment and post-harvest assessment respectively. Other
factors such as disease, lodging and weed infestation were
to be evaluated for their affect in the estimates.
2. Cameras: Two types of special camera were planned
for use this year. A pair of 12 inch focal length HYAC
cameras developed by plus four 3 inch focal 25X1A
length English Vinton ce cameras were used on
each flight. The swath width using the HYACs was approxi-
mately 24 nautical miles. For the Vintons, swath width
was about six nautical miles. Due to delay in delivery of
the Vinton cameras from England, the first sortie was not
flown until 14 July.
a. The first flight was on 14 July. This covered
the Denver and North Dakota areas successfully. 25X1A
ORD, made a trip to the West Coast after is igi
and personally emphasized the importance of a proper
b. On 25 July the film broke during: flight thus
this mission was unsuccessful.
pre-flight of the
equi
pmen
t by
the
re
presentativ
es
.
No further camera
inci
dent
s occ
urre
its
year.
25X1A
c. During August and September a total of six
25X1A
sorties were flown in support of this program. The
last flight was on 28 September. A total of eight
sorties were flown in support of the 1967
program of which seven were successful.
estimates for the 1967 25X1A
a. Following are Dakota.
wheat yeild for North
DATE
ALL WH
AVER
EAT
AGE
ALL W
PRODU
(bus
HEAT
CTION
hels)
Oct
1967
5,640,3
91
151,71
1,438
Ra
w Data Esti
ma
te
13
Dec
1967
7,185,7
30
166,20
2,159
Re
vision I
18
Dec
1967
7,272,1
46
174,14
7,661
Re
vision II
Jan
1968
7,448,5
16
176,19
5,376
Feb
1968
1
71,99
9,000*
* Based on 2 of 1% sample of the entire state.
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25X1A
25X1A
b. The United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) figures, based on actual count and calculations,
estimate a yield of 176,826,000 bushels of wheat. These
figures were published in December 1967. Final figures
will not be available until May 1968. The February
1968 estimate is within 2% of the December 1967
USDA figures.
c. The initial estimate was based on photo 25X1A
interpretation using six mile swath width of the
Vinton camera. Obviously, this was not taking in a
large enough representative area as the figures obtained
were lower than the 1966 yield. The 1967 acreage had
been increased over that planted in 1966. Revisions
incorporated the procedure of photo interpretation
using the 24 mile swath width HYAC cameras which
produced more realistic figures in small acreage areas.
Because of the narrow swath width of the Vinton camera,
a true evaluation was not possible as unproductive
areas such as topography, soil zones, lakes, etc., were
reducing the percent of tillable land excessively in
small wheat areas. An increased number of sample points
was then included. Use of the panoramic camera
Ektachrome Infrared imagery obtained from the HYACs
permitted a better estimate of yield in areas that had
appeared low. Consideration also had to be given in
estimating variable wheat yields within each county
based on historical data. One problem still to be
solved is the development of reliable signature charac-
teristics to identify wheat from other small grain
crops. production estimates are continuing by
further i m analysis with particular emphasis being
placed on use of the 24 mile swath width film.
1968 Proposed Program
1. 1968 Flight Schedule:
a. Further flights are projected for the North
Dakota area but on a reduced number. These flights
will serve to further validate the procedures used
in 1967 and lend additional credence to the applied
methods in arriving at the estimates. A minimum of
four flights are projected.
b. Since rice is one of the other major crops
produced in the world, it is proposed to expand these
studies into that area outside the United States. An
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25X1A
25X1 D
3. Summary: No problems are envisioned in the support
25X1A of this program. I Iwill have representatives in the field
to maintain prefligz , load and unload cameras and will be
sufficiently informed of the program to assist in flight
coordination. Processing of black and white film would be
accomplished at the overseas detachment. This would serve
to determine at an early date whether a ref light might be`
desirable, thus eliminating excessive delay in obtaining
the flight results.
estimated 12 flights will be required to obtain the
desired coverage between June 1968 and June 1969.
I uis the presently selected country for the rice
s u ie provided proper approval is given.
2. Camera Systems: Basically the same camera systems
will be utilized. For the Vinton cameras, a high quality 25X1D
four inch focal length lens will be substituted for the
previous three inch lens. This will provide better scale
and resolution. Both black and white film and
will be used since they have the desirable
tea-ures in LiIOM to obtain maximum photo interpretation
information used in the estimates.
25X1A
25X1A
IDEA/O/OSA
Distribute IT.
1-D/SA
2-D/O/OSA
3-D/M/OSA
4-C/IDEA/O/OSA
5-C/INTEL/O/OSA
6-RB/OSA
7-Holdback
Chief , ivision, O/OSA
bm(16 Feb 68)
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