The requirements on effective crop care become increasingly demanding. As a result, Horsch and precision spraying specialist Sam-Dimension have been into partnership since 2019 in the field of crop protection, with SpotSpraying and PatchSpraying technology. Horsch now takes a strategic share in Sam-Dimension.
This is a logical step for both parties, building on a cooperation that has developed over the past years and will be further intensified in the future. The focus will be on the joint further development of the technology and its even closer integration into Horsch equipment.
Horsch also sees great potential for the future in SpotSpraying. With the Sam-Dimension offline method, the camera system is not permanently mounted on the boom. Instead, the crop is surveyed by a drone prior to the application. The data is analyzed “offline” using edge AI and cloud servers.
Thus, large volumes of data can be processed, and the AI models can be continuously refined. The result is robust and precise Spot Spraying maps, including an overview map of all application zones and detailed area specifications for calculating the required spraying mixture. This allows farmers to see, even before the application, where the crop will be treated and how much spraying mixture will be used.
A prerequisite for SpotSpraying or PatchSpraying is SectionControl, the automatic section control system on the sprayer. This allows for treating both individual spots and larger patches. The system can be implemented using either a pneumatic nozzle control system or PrecisionSpray. The method can be used with all Horsch crop care sprayers.
Both Horsch and Sam-Dimension currently see the greatest potential in traditional row crops such as sugar beet, maize and soya. At the same time, the issue is also becoming increasingly important in cereal crops.
The technical integration is already in place. Application maps from the SAM portal can be transferred directly to the Horsch terminals via myHorsch. The powerful Horsch EOS terminal already provides the basis for processing large application maps. This ensures a seamless workflow from map creation to the application on the machine.
As part of this cooperation, Horsch and Sam-Dimension together will further develop the technology and push its practical application. The objective is to make the potential of SpotSpraying available to agricultural farms as quickly and easily as possible.
Both companies will remain independent, machines and application maps will continue to be compatible with all manufacturers. At the same time, the partners are working to integrate the technology even more deeply into the machines.
