A system for monitoring field surface conditions during the performance of an agricultural operation, the system comprising: a support arm configured to be coupled to a frame of an agricultural implement; a housing coupled to the support arm such that the housing is supported adjacent to a surface of a field, the housing extending over a portion of the surface such that a shielded surface area is defined underneath the housing across said portion of the surface; a light source supported relative to the housing, the light source configured to illuminate at least a portion of the shielded surface area defined underneath the housing such that a shadow (182A, 182B) is created adjacent a surface feature (180A, 180B) positioned within the shielded surface area due to light from the light source being blocked by the surface feature (180A, 180B), the light source is configured to direct light across the at least a portion of the shielded surface area at a lighting angle; characterized in that the system further comprises: an imaging device positioned within the housing such that the imaging device has a field of view directed towards the at least a portion of the shielded surface area, the imaging device configured to capture an image of the surface feature (180A, 180B) and the adjacent shadow (182A, 182B) created by the surface feature; a controller communicatively coupled to the imaging device, the controller configured to: analyze the image to determine a dimensional parameter of the adjacent shadow (182A, 182B); and estimate a parameter associated with the surface feature based on the dimensional parameter of the adjacent shadow (182A, 182B) and the lighting angle; and a position sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, the position sensor configured to provide data to the controller indicative of a position of the light source relative to the surface of the field, wherein the controller is configured to determine the lighting angle at which the light from the light source is directed across the at least a portion of the shielded surface area based on the data received from the position sensor. a support arm configured to be coupled to a frame of an agricultural implement; a housing coupled to the support arm such that the housing is supported adjacent to a surface of a field, the housing extending over a portion of the surface such that a shielded surface area is defined underneath the housing across said portion of the surface; a light source supported relative to the housing, the light source configured to illuminate at least a portion of the shielded surface area defined underneath the housing such that a shadow (182A, 182B) is created adjacent a surface feature (180A, 180B) positioned within the shielded surface area due to light from the light source being blocked by the surface feature (180A, 180B), the light source is configured to direct light across the at least a portion of the shielded surface area at a lighting angle; characterized in that the system further comprises: an imaging device positioned within the housing such that the imaging device has a field of view directed towards the at least a portion of the shielded surface area, the imaging device configured to capture an image of the surface feature (180A, 180B) and the adjacent shadow (182A, 182B) created by the surface feature; a controller communicatively coupled to the imaging device, the controller configured to: analyze the image to determine a dimensional parameter of the adjacent shadow (182A, 182B); and estimate a parameter associated with the surface feature based on the dimensional parameter of the adjacent shadow (182A, 182B) and the lighting angle; and a position sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, the position sensor configured to provide data to the controller indicative of a position of the light source relative to the surface of the field, wherein the controller is configured to determine the lighting angle at which the light from the light source is directed across the at least a portion of the shielded surface area based on the data received from the position sensor. an imaging device positioned within the housing such that the imaging device has a field of view directed towards the at least a portion of the shielded surface area, the imaging device configured to capture an image of the surface feature (180A, 180B) and the adjacent shadow (182A, 182B) created by the surface feature; a controller communicatively coupled to the imaging device, the controller configured to: analyze the image to determine a dimensional parameter of the adjacent shadow (182A, 182B); and estimate a parameter associated with the surface feature based on the dimensional parameter of the adjacent shadow (182A, 182B) and the lighting angle; and analyze the image to determine a dimensional parameter of the adjacent shadow (182A, 182B); and estimate a parameter associated with the surface feature based on the dimensional parameter of the adjacent shadow (182A, 182B) and the lighting angle; and a position sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, the position sensor configured to provide data to the controller indicative of a position of the light source relative to the surface of the field, wherein the controller is configured to determine the lighting angle at which the light from the light source is directed across the at least a portion of the shielded surface area based on the data received from the position sensor.