Abstract: A process for estimating a value of a crop of walnuts prior to harvest includes the following steps which are not necessarily in order. First, arranging an unmanned aerial vehicle with a digital single-lens reflex high speed multi spectral camera fitted with a near-infrared filter. Then, taking normalized difference vegetation index images of a field of walnuts every second at a clarity of two centimeters in detail from an altitude of four hundred feet. Next, forming a map of the field from the normalized difference vegetation index images. After that, determining a ratio of the field which possesses a high near-infrared profile. Following that, calculating a meat yield as a product of the ratio and the maximum walnut grade in the field. Finally, calculating the value of the crop from the meat yield.