AcreLens Getting Started: Crop Intelligence API Integration (2026)

Getting started overview

Integrating with AcreLens involves a sequence of steps designed to enable developers to quickly access and utilize its agricultural data APIs. The process typically begins with account registration, followed by obtaining the necessary API credentials. Once credentials are secured, developers can proceed to make their first API call, often using one of the AcreLens supported SDKs or a direct HTTP client. This initial setup establishes the foundation for building precision agriculture applications.

AcreLens provides a free Developer Plan, offering 500 API calls and processing for 5,000 acres per month, which facilitates initial prototyping and testing without immediate cost AcreLens pricing page. The platform's core offerings include APIs for Crop Health, Yield Prediction, Soil Moisture, and Field Boundary data, catering to various agricultural intelligence needs AcreLens API reference.

The following table summarizes the key steps involved in getting started:

Create an account and get keys

Before making any API requests, you must create an AcreLens account and obtain your API key. This key authenticates your requests and associates them with your account's usage limits and billing.

1. Navigate to the AcreLens Signup Page: Open your web browser and go to the AcreLens account creation page.
2. Complete Registration: Fill in the required details, including your email address and a strong password. You may need to verify your email address after submission.
3. Access the Developer Dashboard: Once registered and logged in, you will be redirected to your AcreLens developer dashboard.
4. Locate API Keys: Within the dashboard, find the section labeled 'API Keys' or 'Credentials'. Typically, a default API key is generated upon account creation, or you may need to generate a new one.
5. Secure Your API Key: Your API key is a sensitive credential. Treat it like a password and avoid exposing it in client-side code, public repositories, or unsecured environments. It is recommended to store API keys as environment variables or in a secure configuration management system when deploying applications Google Cloud API key best practices.

Record your API key as it will be required for all subsequent API calls. If you ever suspect your key has been compromised, you can revoke it and generate a new one from your dashboard.

Your first request

After obtaining your API key, you can make your first request to verify your setup. This example uses the Crop Health API to retrieve an NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) value for a specific geographic point. We will provide examples for both Python and JavaScript, the two primary languages supported by AcreLens SDKs.

Prerequisites

• An active AcreLens account with an API key.
• Python 3.6+ or Node.js 14+ installed on your system.

Python example

First, install the AcreLens Python SDK:

pip install acrelens-sdk

Then, create a Python file (e.g., get_crop_health.py) and add the following code. Replace YOUR_ACRELENS_API_KEY with your actual API key.

import os
from acrelens_sdk import AcreLensClient

# It's recommended to store your API key as an environment variable
# Example: export ACRELENS_API_KEY="your_secret_api_key"
api_key = os.getenv("ACRELENS_API_KEY", "YOUR_ACRELENS_API_KEY")

client = AcreLensClient(api_key=api_key)

try:
    # Example: Get NDVI for a point (latitude, longitude) on a specific date
    latitude = 34.052235
    longitude = -118.243683
    date = "2023-07-15"

    print(f"Fetching crop health for lat: {latitude}, lon: {longitude} on {date}...")
    crop_health_data = client.crop_health.get_ndvi(latitude=latitude, longitude=longitude, date=date)

    if crop_health_data:
        print("Successfully retrieved crop health data:")
        print(f"  NDVI Value: {crop_health_data.ndvi_value}")
        print(f"  Timestamp: {crop_health_data.timestamp}")
    else:
        print("No crop health data found for the specified parameters.")

except Exception as e:
    print(f"An error occurred: {e}")

Run the script:

python get_crop_health.py

A successful response will print the NDVI value and timestamp. An error typically indicates an issue with the API key or request parameters.

JavaScript example

First, initialize a Node.js project and install the AcreLens JavaScript SDK:

npm init -y
npm install acrelens-sdk

Then, create a JavaScript file (e.g., getCropHealth.js) and add the following code. Replace YOUR_ACRELENS_API_KEY with your actual API key.

const AcreLensClient = require('acrelens-sdk').AcreLensClient;

// It's recommended to store your API key as an environment variable
// Example: process.env.ACRELENS_API_KEY = "your_secret_api_key";
const apiKey = process.env.ACRELENS_API_KEY || "YOUR_ACRELENS_API_KEY";

const client = new AcreLensClient(apiKey);

async function getCropHealth() {
    try {
        // Example: Get NDVI for a point (latitude, longitude) on a specific date
        const latitude = 34.052235;
        const longitude = -118.243683;
        const date = "2023-07-15";

        console.log(`Fetching crop health for lat: ${latitude}, lon: ${longitude} on ${date}...`);
        const cropHealthData = await client.cropHealth.getNdvi(latitude, longitude, date);

        if (cropHealthData) {
            console.log("Successfully retrieved crop health data:");
            console.log(`  NDVI Value: ${cropHealthData.ndviValue}`);
            console.log(`  Timestamp: ${cropHealthData.timestamp}`);
        } else {
            console.log("No crop health data found for the specified parameters.");
        }

    } catch (error) {
        console.error(`An error occurred: ${error.message}`);
    }
}

getCropHealth();

Run the script:

node getCropHealth.js

A successful execution will display the NDVI value and timestamp in your console.

Common next steps

After successfully making your first API call, you can explore more advanced features and integrate AcreLens deeper into your applications:

• Explore Other APIs: AcreLens offers various APIs beyond Crop Health, including Yield Prediction API, Soil Moisture API, and Field Boundary API. Review the AcreLens API reference documentation for full details on available endpoints and their capabilities.
• Implement Webhooks: For asynchronous notifications, such as when long-running data processing tasks are complete, consider implementing webhooks. Webhooks allow AcreLens to notify your application directly when specific events occur AcreLens Webhooks guide. This reduces the need for constant polling.
• Manage Field Boundaries: Utilize the Field Boundary API to define and manage agricultural field polygons. Accurate field boundaries are crucial for precise data analysis and targeted application of agricultural inputs.
• Integrate with Mapping Tools: Combine AcreLens data with mapping libraries (e.g., Leaflet, Google Maps Platform) to visualize crop health, yield predictions, or soil moisture levels on interactive maps Google Maps JavaScript API overview.
• Monitor Usage: Regularly check your API usage in the AcreLens dashboard to stay within your plan limits and understand your consumption patterns.
• Upgrade Your Plan: If your application's requirements exceed the free Developer Plan, review the AcreLens pricing page to select a paid plan that aligns with your operational scale.

Troubleshooting the first call

Encountering issues during your first API call is common. Here are some troubleshooting steps:

• Verify API Key: Double-check that you have copied your API key correctly from the AcreLens developer dashboard. Ensure no extra spaces or characters are included.
• Environment Variable Setup: If you are using environment variables for your API key, ensure they are correctly set and accessible by your script. For example, in bash, use export ACRELENS_API_KEY="YOUR_KEY" before running your script.
• Network Connectivity: Confirm that your development environment has an active internet connection and is not blocked by a firewall or proxy from accessing api.acrelens.com.
• Request Parameters: Review the latitude, longitude, and date parameters used in your request. Incorrect or out-of-range values can lead to 'No data found' or 'Bad Request' errors. Refer to the AcreLens Crop Health API documentation for expected parameter formats and ranges.
• Rate Limiting: While unlikely on a first call, be aware of rate limits. Exceeding your plan's API call limit can result in 429 Too Many Requests errors. Check your dashboard for current usage.
• SDK Version: Ensure you are using the latest version of the AcreLens SDK. Outdated SDKs might have bugs or not support the latest API features. Update using pip install --upgrade acrelens-sdk (Python) or npm update acrelens-sdk (JavaScript).
• Error Messages: Pay close attention to the error messages returned by the API or the SDK. They often provide specific clues about what went wrong. For example, a 401 Unauthorized error almost always points to an invalid API key.
• Consult Documentation and Support: If you are still facing issues, refer to the AcreLens troubleshooting guide or contact AcreLens support for assistance.