Recently, I’ve seen a lot of autonomous vehicles, electric tractors, ag robots, and AI enhanced equipment at World Ag Expo, FIRA USA and Agritechnica. Out of all the new tech equipment, I believe the first large-scale adoption will come in precision spraying.
Herbicide-resistant weeds have proliferated over the past years. There are also numerous negative reports on the environmental and health impacts of using farm chemicals, including a recent report that came out showing Midwest states having the largest increased rate of cancer. Also, Bayer has fought over 110,000 lawsuits and still has more than 50,000 to go on the claim that glyphosate causes cancer. Bayer has $6.3 billion set aside for these cases. This all points to less chemical usage.
But the biggest reason for quick adoption is the buy-in by major ag manufacturers. There were many entrepreneurial companies promoting their precision spraying technology, however, they got limited traction with farmers until John Deere came out with See & Spray. It seems like all these companies’ technologies are now being validated. Also, when you see chemical companies like BASF and Bayer promoting this technology, it appears the writing is on the wall.
First, there are two types of detection of weeds. The first technology was much easier, green-on-brown. Some of this technology has been around since the early 2000’s. Cameras would detect green weeds or grass in fallow fields or pre-planted fields. The latest technology is green-on-green. This is where AI learning comes into play. These systems learn over time what is a weed and what is the crop.
Detection of weeds can come from the sprayers themselves or from aerial imaging. Minnesota-based Sentera recently entered this segment with an aerial scouting technology that can detect weeds and generate data about when and where to spray, and with which chemical cocktail. The Sentera WeedScout involves low-cost drones and one high-end sensor that can map the weeds in a field and generate a prescription for herbicide application. In 2023 field trials, their target was 95% detection of quarter-inch weeds; the algorithm performed at a 98% rate.
There is also a difference in the level of precision spraying coverage. Some companies activate sections of a boom, while others target individual plants. The industry, however, is moving rapidly from zone-focus with section control to individual plants.
Here are the players that I know about and their targeting ability:
Agrifac
Agrifac’s DynamicDosePlus technology can deliver variable rates from each nozzle in a minimum width of 10” under the control of a prescription map. Agrifac has RGB color cameras mounted on the boom, recognizing weeds and crops based on shape, structure and contrast. NOTE: Agrifac now has locations in Kearney and Seward, Nebraska.
AgTechLogic Aftermarket start-up )
Green-on-brown spraying at this time.
Bayer (Development stage)
Bayer’s MagicSprayer 6000, in principle, is similar to the well-known Ecorobotix ARA, which also has a 6-meter working width. However, the spray nozzles on the MagicSprayer are placed even closer together: at a distance of 3 instead of 4 centimeters.
Ecorobotix (Specialty crop for now)
ARA is a 20’ mounted ultra-high precision sprayer, which enables the ultra-targeted application of herbicides, fungicides, insecticides or fertilizers.
Fendt, CaseIH and New Holland
ONE SMART SPRAY, the smart spraying solution of a joint venture between Bosch and BASF will be on Fendt, CaseIH and NH sprayers. This will provide customers with green-on-green (plant on plant) and green-on-brown (plant on soil) weed detection and selective spraying.
Greeneye Technology (Aftermarket)
Green-on-Green – Differentiating weeds from crop to spray precisely only the weeds and reduce up to 90% of herbicide usage.
Green-on-Brown – Apply precision spraying on pre-planting and post-harvest spraying application.
Precise-Level – Identify weeds down to the species level to fight herbicide resistance weeds.
NOTE: University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2022 field trial found Greeneye Precision Spraying System reduced non-residual herbicide use by 87% while delivering same efficacy as broadcast spraying.
John Deere
See & Spray Select is for use in fallow ground only. It uses color-detecting technology to identify and target spray green on brown soil.
See & Spray Ultimate detects weeds among corn and soybeans. Individual plant detection.
Solinftec Solix Ag Robotics
(As a service model)
Solix operates autonomously day and night, seamlessly navigating through fields without disturbing rows. The platform facilitates a target-spray application.
Trimble (Aftermarket)
WeedSeeker system can identify plants on bare soil (green-on-brown) and can only be used prior to the crop emerging from the soil.
The WeedSeeker® 2 automatic spot spray system uses advanced optics and processing power to detect and eliminate resistant weeds (green-on-green).
Verdant (Specialty crop for now)
Verdant’s Bullseye targeting technology uses artificial intelligence to identify individual crops and weeds in your field with 99% accuracy. Can operate day or night. Mounted.
I’m sure I missed a few new players as this technology advances quickly. If you are in the sprayer business, it is time to seek out what you can offer your customers because they will be asking!