Research and Science
Crop Sequence Boundaries
The Crop Sequence Boundaries (CSB) developed with USDA's Economic Research Service, produces estimates of field boundaries, crop acreage, and crop rotations across the contiguous United States. It uses satellite imagery with other public data and is open source allowing users to conduct area and statistical analysis of planted U.S. commodities and provides insight on farmer cropping decisions.
NASS needed a representative field to predict crop planting based on common crop rotations such as corn-soy and ERS is using this product to study changes in farm management practices like tillage or cover cropping over time.
CSB represents non-confidential single crop field boundaries over a set time frame. It does not contain personal identifying information. The boundaries captured are of crops grown only, not ownership boundaries or tax parcels (unit of property). The data are from satellite imagery and publicly available data, it does not come from producers or agencies like the Farm Service Agency.
- The Interactive Map displays 2018-2025 CSB data.
Notes:
- The 2018-2025 released March 27, 2026.
- Current version is v2024.
- These datasets span 8-year time frames for all years from 2008 to current. Custom time frames can be created using the Github code.
Publications:
- Crop sequence boundaries using USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service historic cropland data layers
- Crop Sequence Boundaries: Delineated Fields Using Remotely Sensed Crop Rotations
- Preseason crop type prediction using crop sequence boundaries
- Crop Sequence Boundaries Project
- Maximizing ArcGIS Pro for Crop Sequence Boundaries Project
Datasets:
Eight-year time frames from 2008 to present.
- Download the Crop Sequence Boundaries 2018-2025 dataset
- Download the Crop Sequence Boundaries 2017-2024 dataset
- Download the Crop Sequence Boundaries 2016-2023 dataset
- Download the Crop Sequence Boundaries 2015-2022 dataset
- Download the Crop Sequence Boundaries 2014-2021 dataset
- Download the Crop Sequence Boundaries 2013-2020 dataset
- Download the Crop Sequence Boundaries 2012-2019 dataset
- Download the Crop Sequence Boundaries 2011-2018 dataset
- Download the Crop Sequence Boundaries 2010-2017 dataset
- Download the Crop Sequence Boundaries 2009-2016 dataset
- Download the Crop Sequence Boundaries 2008-2015 dataset
Additional Files:
Contact: sm.nass.rdd.gib@usda.gov for additional support.