Hey WW
I also live 'upstate"....if you live on a farm, they are looking for heat plumes off of barns, the ground (buried grow rooms) and homes. Pot has become the #1 cash crop upstate and like i've said they are well aware of it. They are also looking for, excuse the term, dopes, that plant in huge patches of 20 or more plants. You'd be suprised how easy they are to see from the air. As i said, FLIR tech is good, but seeing a few plants here and there, don't worry too much. Remember, when growing outside, never leave trails to your spots, never leave trash around, when going to your spot, if it looks comprimised, it probally is and if your brave come back at night a week later, and never ever tell anyone where it is or even that you are growing. The NYS troopers ( real hardcore, but understaffed and funded) do not have the capibillities of the military and FLIR is more for looking for lost kids than finding a few plants. Like i've said, i am very familiar with this tech and my feelings are dont freak out too much. Now the Feds are a different story, but with the cluster fuck going on in IRAQ the DEA's budget has suffered to the point that they are not getting the latest and greatest equipment anymore.
PB