Frequently Asked Questions: Cropwise Explorer

General Questions

What is Cropwise Explorer?

Cropwise Explorer is an advanced agronomic insights solution that uses satellite imagery and analytical tools to help you monitor crop health, identify patterns, and make data-driven decisions throughout the growing season.

What happened to Cropwise Imagery?

Cropwise Imagery has evolved into Cropwise Explorer. All features you used in Imagery remain available, plus new capabilities for analyzing your fields throughout the entire season - from pre-season planning to post-season review. The name change reflects expanded capabilities beyond simple imagery viewing.

Is there a mobile app for Explorer?

Explorer is accessible through your mobile web browser. Open your browser on any smartphone or tablet, navigate to Cropwise, log in, and access Explorer. The interface is mobile-optimized for field use.

What is the difference between RGB and NDVI?

RGB (True Color) shows a natural-color view of your fields, similar to a photograph. NDVI uses infrared light to visualize vegetation health, showing crop vigor with color coding (green = healthy, yellow/orange = stressed, brown = bare soil or very sparse vegetation).

Access & Account

How do I get access to Cropwise Explorer?

Contact your Syngenta representative or account manager to obtain a Cropwise account with Explorer license. You will receive login credentials and setup instructions.

I can't log in. What should I do?

Check these common issues:

• Verify you're using the correct email address
• Check if Caps Lock is on
• Try resetting your password using the "Forgot Password" link
• Clear your browser cache and cookies
• Try a different browser

If problems persist, contact your administrator or support team.

Why can't I see Explorer in my Cropwise account?

Your Cropwise account must have an Explorer license enabled. Contact your account manager to verify your subscription includes Explorer.

Can I share access with my team?

Yes. Work with your administrator to set up accounts for team members. They can access the same organization and fields based on permissions configured.

Fields & Imagery

Why are my fields not showing up in Explorer?

Possible reasons:

• Field boundaries haven't been uploaded to the platform yet
• You're not assigned to the correct organization or farm
• Fields are filtered out (check filters)

Contact your administrator to verify field setup.

How often are satellite images updated?

Satellites capture images daily. However, cloud cover may prevent clear images. Explorer always displays the most recent cloud-free image available. The date stamp on each image shows when it was captured.

Why is my field image cloudy or not current?

Satellite imagery depends on weather conditions. If the most recent pass had cloud cover over your field, Explorer shows the latest clear image available. Check the date stamp on the image. In most locations, you'll receive multiple clear images per week.

How far back can I view historical imagery?

Explorer stores historical satellite imagery, allowing you to compare current conditions to past dates. Available history depends on when field boundaries were added to your account and platform data retention.

Can I view multiple fields at once?

Yes. Zoom out on the map to see multiple fields simultaneously. You can also select multiple fields for comparison or batch operations. Use filters to view specific groups of fields (by crop, farm, status).

Understanding NDVI

What do the different NDVI colors mean?

Why does NDVI change across my field?

NDVI variability within a field reflects differences in:

• Crop density: Thinner stands show lower NDVI
• Plant health: Stress from pests, disease, or nutrients reduces NDVI
• Soil differences: Soil type affects crop growth
• Moisture: Water stress lowers NDVI
• Topography: Slope and drainage patterns affect growth

Why does my field look different than the satellite shows?

Several factors can cause apparent discrepancies:

• Date difference: The satellite image may be a few days old
• Interpretation: Ground-truth the satellite data by visiting the field
• Image resolution: 3m resolution shows patterns but not individual plants
• Color interpretation: NDVI color scales may differ from visual assessment

What is considered a "significant" NDVI change?

Changes of 0.1 or greater in NDVI typically indicate meaningful changes in vegetation. However, interpretation depends on:

• Growth stage (rapid growth shows larger changes)
• Crop type
• Time between images

Use NDVI Change Reports to quantify changes over specific periods.

Anomalies & Alerts

What is anomaly detection?

Anomaly detection automatically identifies unusual patterns in your fields that deviate from expected conditions. These may indicate problems such as pest infestations, disease, water stress, nutrient deficiencies, or equipment issues.

How accurate is anomaly detection?

Anomaly detection identifies patterns that warrant investigation. It is not a diagnosis - always ground-truth anomalies by visiting the field before taking corrective action. The algorithm learns from historical patterns in your specific fields.

What should I do when I receive an anomaly alert?

1. Open Explorer and view the flagged field
2. Compare current imagery to previous dates
3. Examine the anomaly in detail (zoom in)
4. Visit the field if action may be needed
5. Add observations/notes to document findings
6. Take action if needed, or continue monitoring

Can I adjust sensitivity of anomaly detection?

Alert thresholds are set by the platform. If you're receiving too many or too few alerts, contact your account manager to discuss configuration options.

Why did I get an alert but I don't see any problem?

Satellite imagery may have detected a pattern that doesn't translate to a visible problem on the ground. Possible explanations:

• Natural field variability
• Temporary conditions (cloud shadow, wet soil)
• Positive changes (crop improvement) can also trigger alerts
• Growth stage changes causing expected NDVI shifts

Add a note to document your observation; use the data to refine your understanding.

Prescriptions & Variable Rate

How do I create a prescription map?

1. Select your field
2. Choose the NDVI image date to use as basis
3. Generate zones (automatic or manual)
4. Set application rates for each zone
5. Preview and adjust
6. Export in your equipment's format

What file formats are available for export?

Supported formats include:

• Shapefile (.shp) - Most precision agriculture systems
• ISOXML - Standard for modern equipment monitors
• Direct export - John Deere Operations Center, CNH

Which NDVI image date should I use for a prescription?

Choose an image from a growth stage appropriate for your application:

• Pre-planting applications: Use historical productivity maps
• In-season nitrogen: Use imagery from rapid growth stages
• Crop protection: Use imagery from just before application timing

Consult your agronomist for application-specific recommendations.

How many zones should I create?

Start with 3-5 zones to balance simplicity with precision. More zones may not provide additional benefit and can complicate application. Adjust based on:

• Field variability (more zones for highly variable fields)
• Equipment capability (can my equipment accurately apply many rates?)
• Management complexity (can I manage many zones effectively?)

Will my prescription export to my equipment?

Export directly to John Deere Operations Center or CNH systems if integrated. For other equipment, export as Shapefile or ISOXML and transfer via USB or monitor import.

Can I create prescriptions for multiple fields at once?

Yes. Select multiple fields and batch generate prescriptions using consistent criteria. This is useful for large operations needing prescriptions across many fields quickly.

Yield Data & Analysis

How do I import yield data?

1. Go to Data Layers → Import Yield Data
2. Select your yield file (typically shapefile format)
3. Map attributes (yield, moisture, etc.)
4. Match to field boundaries
5. Process and visualize

What yield monitor formats are supported?

Explorer supports common yield data formats including:

• John Deere yield data
• CNH yield data
• Generic shapefiles with yield attributes

Contact support if you have format questions.

Why should I import yield data into Explorer?

Combining yield data with satellite imagery enables:

• Validate what satellite imagery showed during the season
• Identify correlations between in-season NDVI and final yield
• Create productivity maps based on actual results
• Make better decisions for next season

How many years of yield data should I import?

Import at least 2-3 years of yield data to identify stable productivity patterns. Single-year yield data may reflect seasonal anomalies rather than consistent zones.

Data & Integration

How do I connect my John Deere account?

1. Go to Settings → Integrations
2. Select John Deere
3. Log in to your Operations Center account
4. Authorize data sharing
5. Select which data to sync

What data syncs between Explorer and my equipment?

From Explorer to Equipment:

• Prescription maps
• Field boundaries

From Equipment to Explorer:

• Yield data
• Application records (if configured)

Is my data secure?

Yes. Cropwise Explorer uses enterprise-grade security including:

• Encrypted data transmission and storage
• Secure authentication
• Role-based access controls
• Data privacy compliant with regulations

Who owns my data?

You own your data. Cropwise uses your data only to provide the service. Review your terms of service for full details.

Can I export my data from Explorer?

Yes. Export satellite imagery, prescriptions, and other data from Explorer. See export options within each feature.

Notifications & Insights

How do I set up email notifications?

1. Go to Settings → Notifications
2. Select notification types:
   • Weekly Field Insights
   • Anomaly alerts
   • New imagery available
3. Choose email frequency
4. Save preferences

What is included in Weekly Field Insights?

Weekly insights typically include:

• Summary of all your fields' status
• Fields requiring attention
• Significant changes since last week
• New imagery available
• Suggested priorities for the week

How often should I check Explorer?

Recommend checking at least weekly during the growing season. Enable email notifications so you receive alerts without actively checking. Critical alerts may warrant immediate attention.

Troubleshooting

Why is Explorer running slowly?

Possible causes:

• Internet connection: Slow connection affects image loading
• Browser: Try clearing cache or using a different browser
• Large fields: Very large fields may take longer to render
• Multiple layers: Too many layers slow performance

Why are my field boundaries incorrect?

Contact your administrator to update field boundaries. Boundaries may need adjustment if:

• Field area changed (acquired/rented new land)
• Incorrect boundaries were uploaded initially

Why can't I generate a prescription?

Possible reasons:

• No suitable NDVI image available for the field
• Field boundary missing or incorrect
• Permission issue (verify you have prescription creation rights)

Contact your administrator if issues persist.

My prescription won't import to my monitor. What do I do?

1. Verify you exported in the correct format for your equipment
2. Check file was successfully transferred to USB/device
3. Ensure field name in prescription matches field name in monitor
4. Try re-exporting the prescription

Contact support for equipment-specific troubleshooting.

I see an error message. What should I do?

1. Refresh your browser
2. Clear your browser cache
3. Try a different browser
4. Log out and log back in
5. If error persists, contact support with:
   • Error message text
   • What you were trying to do
   • Screenshot if possible

Support

How do I get help?

• In-App Help: Look for help icons (?) throughout Explorer
• Account Manager: Contact your Syngenta representative
• Documentation: Review other articles in the knowledge base
• Training: Ask about training resources and sessions

Is training available?

Yes. Contact your account manager to learn about:

• Onboarding sessions
• Feature-specific training
• Webinars
• Self-paced learning materials

How do I report a bug or suggest a feature?

Contact your account manager or support team with:

• Description of the issue or suggestion
• Steps to reproduce (if bug)
• Impact on your workflow
• Screenshots if applicable

Glossary of Terms

Still Have Questions?

If you didn't find your answer here:

• Browse other articles in our Knowledge Base
• Contact your Account Manager
• Ask about training opportunities