For many years, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) coordinated annual summer flights of Minnesota’s agricultural counties. Recent partnerships with other federal and state agencies have expanded flight coverage to the entire state. Earlier USDA photos taken since the mid-1930s are also available for many areas of the state.
NAIP digital photos
Pre-2002 prints and slides
Aerial Photography Field Office information
States outside Minnesota
Through the
National Agriculture Imagery Program, the Farm Service Agency collects
color imagery used to monitor USDA farm
programs. Other organizations and citizens use NAIP photos for countless
other applications. An
issue brief from the National States Geographic Information Council
advocates a regular schedule for this program in the future.
Quick Links for 2008 and
2009 and 2010 Photos
(no photos flown for Minnesota in 2011 or 2012; photos planned for 2013,
but subject to budget availability)
Summary Table Click on the year for more information
| Year | Status | Resolution | Area | Color | Accuracy* |
| 2013 | Planned, subject to budget availability | 1-meter | map (planned, subject to budget availability) | natural color (3-band) | Orthorectified |
| 2012 | Not flown | map (shows other states flown) | |||
| 2011 | Not flown | map (shows other states flown) | |||
| 2010 | Available | 1-meter | Statewide | natural color (3-band) | Orthorectified |
| 2009 | Available | 1-meter | Statewide | natural color (3-band) | Orthorectified |
| 2008 | Available | 1-meter | Statewide | natural color and color-infrared (4-band) | Orthorectified |
| 2007 | Not flown | map (shows other states flown) | |||
| 2006 | Available | 2-meter | Most of Minnesota (map) | natural color (3-band) | Geo-rectified |
| 2005 | Available | 2-meter | Most of Minnesota (map) | natural color (3-band) | Geo-rectified |
| 2004 | Available | 2-meter | Most of Minnesota (map) | natural color (3-band) | Geo-rectified |
| 2003-04 | Available | 1-meter | Statewide | natural color (3-band) | Orthorectified |
| 2002 | Available | 1-meter | 28 southern Minnesota counties (state
map) (national map) |
natural color (3-band) | Orthorectified |
| 2001 | Available | 2-meter | 64,000 square miles of southern Minnesota | natural color (3-band) | Geo-rectified |
* Orthorectified photos have better horizontal positional accuracy than
geo-rectified photos.
Earlier than 2001: Prints or 35mm slides may be available for ordering; many 1938-39
scanned photos are online.
Photos from 1955 through the present are housed at USDA's Aerial Photography Field Office in Salt Lake City. The APFO describes itself as the largest source of historical and current imagery of the conterminous United States. It houses photographic imagery secured for the Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service in addition to the Farm Service Agency. It also houses copies of NAPP photography, produced jointly with the U.S. Geological Survey.
APFO's catalog lists photographic coverage by state and by county. See their website for ordering information and payment options.
Sales Branch, USDA FSA APFO
2222 West 2300 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84119-2020
apfo.sales@slc.usda.gov
www.apfo.usda.gov
(801) 844-2922
FSA NAIP photos are available for other states. Find status maps and
links to websites in states neighboring Minnesota.
More...
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