Using state-of-the-art remote sensing technologies to detect the timing of tassel emergence . The overall goal of this research program is to expand the use of NASA's satellite vegetation imagery to document the timing of corn pollen release on a field scale. Working with Dr. Jerry Hatfield at the USDA-ARS National Soil Tilth Lab, we expect to couple this fundamental information provided by satellites equipped with hyperspectral imaging capability with our models of pollen shed and dispersal to predict local and regional patterns of corn pollen movement.Computational techniques also are being developed (similar to those used in bioinformatics to analyze complex interactions among nucleotide bases in DNA and amino acids) to analyze these complex hyperspectral images. In collaboration with Dr. Bryan Steward in Ag & Biosystems Engineering, we are developing novel ‘genetic' algorithms to select wavelengths from the spectra which have the greatest predictive ability. This research activity is funded by a NASA grant through the Iowa Space Grant Consortium.