PastureKey

Pasture Key FAQ

• What is PastureKey

  PastureKey is Cibo Labs' premium service that uses satellite imagery and machine learning to provide highly detailed, paddock-level insights for grazing businesses. It gives you objective data on pasture biomass, ground cover, and land condition, helping you make smarter decisions to improve profitability and sustainability.

• How does PastureKey work?

  Our service uses imagery from the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-2 satellites. These satellites capture high-resolution images of your property every five days. Our advanced machine learning models then process this data, combining it with ground-truth information to generate detailed insights. These are delivered to your personal dashboard via our simple web platform.

• What is the difference between PastureKey and the free Australian Feedbase Monitor (AFM)?

  The Australian Feedbase Monitor (AFM) is a valuable tool for understanding broad, property-level trends, whereas PastureKey is a paid subscription service designed for tactical, paddock-level management.

  • Resolution: AFM provides data at an 80m resolution (1ha), giving you a general view of your property. PastureKey offers a much higher 10m resolution, allowing you to analyze feed conditions within individual paddocks with precision.

  • Information Level: AFM gives you insights at the farm or land parcel level, best suited for strategic planning. PastureKey provides detailed analysis for each of your custom-drawn paddocks, which is essential for day-to-day tactical decisions like rotating livestock.

  • Cost: AFM is a free service for producers with a valid LPA User ID and Property Identification Code (PIC). PastureKey is an annual subscription service with pricing based on the size and number of properties.

  In short, AFM is your free starting point for understanding your farm's feedbase, while PastureKey is the premium tool that takes your forage budgeting and feed management to the next level.

• What is Total Standing Dry Matter TSDM?

  TSDM is the total amount of dry plant material available per hectare (kg/ha). It's the most important measure of feed because it accounts for the nutritional value available to livestock, excluding water content. PastureKey provides TSDM estimates broken down into Green Dry Matter (GDM) and Dead Dry Matter (DDM), giving you a full picture of your feed quality and quantity.

• How accurate are the predictions?

  Our prediction models are continually refined using a "living laboratory" of over 7,000 GPS-located field sites. This allows us to achieve a median prediction error of less than 200kg/ha, with a strong correlation (r-square of 0.85). While no "silver bullet" exists for every complex landscape, we work with our clients to collect additional data to improve predictions in specific areas where needed.
  

   

• How often is the data updated?

  PastureKey provides a new estimate for every paddock and your entire farm every five days, following a satellite overpass. This ensures you have the most current information available for your decision-making.

• Is there any hardware or complex setup required?

  No. PastureKey is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform. There is no hardware to install, and no complex setup or maintenance is required. You simply log in to your personal dashboard to access all your insights.

• Can I integrate PastureKey with other farm management software?

  Yes. PastureKey’s TSDM and Feed-On-Offer (FOO) predictions can be automatically pushed into third-party systems like AgriWebb and PairTree. We also provide simple spreadsheet downloads (CSV and XLS) for easy use.

• How do I get started

  You can sign up for our 30-day free trial to experience the benefits of PastureKey firsthand. The trial includes full access to all features. For pricing information or a personalized demonstration, you can contact our Support Team directly.