This paper represents a literature review on the progress in the field of research and applications of agricultural remote sensing in the past 20 years in China. In remote sensing information retrieval

the space–ground–network integrated technical system has emerged because of the rapid development of Earth observation satellites

the booming of unmanned aerial vehicles

as well as the extensive and intensive application of wireless sensor networks and the Internet of Things in China. In quantitative remote sensing

various agricultural parameters

including LAI

soil moisture

and crop nutrients have been inverted from remote sensing data via statistical and/or mechanical models. In crop acreage estimation and crop mapping by remote sensing

considerable progress in algorithms and operational system development has been made in the past 20 years in China. In crop growth monitoring and yield estimation/prediction

quantitative remote sensing data products as well as various remote sensing indexes have been used with in-situ data. Various empirical models have also been investigated.Remote sensing data assimilation with crop growth models is a prevailing issue in this research field. For agricultural disaster monitoring and assessment with remote sensing

drought

flood

pests

plant disease

and so on have been studied with different types of remote sensing data and quantitative data products with various models. Some of these research outcomes and systems have been operational. In remote sensing for agricultural land resources

the research foci is shifting from land resources quantity research to spatial patterns and their dynamics

as well as to specific elements of agricultural lands

e.g.

facility agriculture land and plastic-mulching cropland. The classification methods are more diverse

and novel methods

including object-oriented methods

machine learning methods

knowledge-based algorithms

and so on

are investigated. In the past 20 years

significant progress has been made in the research and application of agricultural remote sensing in China. In the future

an increasing number of Earth observation satellites will be in orbit with the application of the China High Resolution Earth Observation System and National Spatial Infrastructure. Sensor technology

Internet plus

big data

and artificial intelligence

among other technologies

are expected to develop rapidly. In this new era

the agriculture development pattern will change with the upgrade of the national economy and social development in China. Many new demands and opportunities will occur in agricultural remote sensing research and application. First

the space–ground–network integrated technical system for agricultural information retrieval will be applied more extensively to meet diverse demands in various agricultural sectors. Second

new techniques

including artificial intelligence

big data

and so on

will play important roles in solving critical problems in agricultural remote sensing research and applications. Third

remote sensing is expected to be applied more extensively in new sub-disciplines of agronomy

which will not only improve agricultural research but also enrich the theory and techniques in remote sensing.