One of the biggest challenges in pastoral systems is accurately determining forage availability. Destructive sampling is the most accurate method to use but it is very time-consuming, so non-destructive methods are usually preferred. This study compared data on the percentage of green canopy cover (%GCC) obtained using a recently developed image-analysis mobile phone app (Canopeo®) with crop biomass, light interception and NDVI measurements. Data were obtained for a range of crop species from two dryland experiments of lucerne (E1) and winter forage crops (E2). Linear and quadratic regression models were constructed to evaluate the data obtained using Canopeo® to estimate biomass accumulation, light interception and NDVI. For lucerne, positive linear relationships were found between %GCC and biomass (0.77 and 0.79 for Spring + Summer and Autumn + Winter, respectively; P<0.05), and between %GCC and light interception (R2=0.83; P<0.05). For winter forage crops, there was a linear relationship between biomass and %GCC (R2=0.81; P<0.05), and a linear relationship between %GCC and light interception (R2=83; P<0.05). NDVI data obtained using the GreenSeeker® crop sensing system was linearly related to %GCC data from Canopeo® in both experiments (R2=0.84 in E1 and R2=0.93 in E2; P<0.05). The Canopeo® app proved to be a fast and reliable method to estimate biomass accumulation and light interception of forage crops in this study and has potential wider applications. However, it does not distinguish between crops and weeds.

In the last two decades, modernization process of the agricultural sector, has a direct impact in the social subject of Santa Fe dairy basin. 1990 generates new legislation that frames the work and life of the tambero and his family, reconfi guring this fundamental social subject. The qualitative methodology used was case study on the Department of the Colonies. The results presented in this article show that changes by the new legal fi gure of the tambero, have an impact on their living conditions. Despite the fact that the new legislation makes -from the letter -dairy employee in associate producer, it does not cause improvements in their social status. The complete study is an articulation process between research and rural development, were identifi ed and systematized the context of both legal situations; and changes in the conditions of life of the tambero and his family, providing expertise to guide the task of extension related to rural development.