John Deere See & Spray comes to Europe

John Deere introduces its See & Spray system on its European sprayers, built in Horst (Netherlands). Following the introduction of See & Spray Select and Ultimate in the USA, John Deere is taking the next important step towards precise crop protection.

The See & Spray system for Europe is based on the See & Spray Select technology already introduced in the USA. It uses camera technology to detect colour differences in the field. The cameras and other hardware components are integrated directly into the boom or chassis of the machine. One camera is mounted per meter of working width, which captures green plants at lightning speed. Processors handles the images and the nozzles are triggered individually for spot treatment. The green detection on the field soil enables a targeted application of pre-emergence herbicides. All weeds that are also visible to the naked eye are detected by the cameras. However, See & Spray is not only suitable for pre-emergence treatment, but can also be used in row crops after emergence. The crop rows can be extracted by the sprayer and thus the weeds between the rows can be targeted and treated. This application is possible at all stages and for all row crops before the canopy closes, allowing the customer an additional treatment for See & Spray in the growing crop.

Tested under different conditions

See & Spray has already been tested on about 120,000 ha worldwide. The success in application is comparable to broadcast spray, but with a saving of up to two thirds of consumption. First tests in Europe showed the same results. In addition, the system could be optimised to adapt See & Spray to European conditions.

The See & Spray system can document the application of herbicides using the in-cab Gen 4 display. In this context the display creates a coverage map with information on where the herbicide was applied. The documentation can be transferred via JDLink to the John Deere Operations Center. Among other things, this would allow sub-areas with increased weed pressure to be identified and future measures to be optimised.

See & Spray Select is already sold with the self-propelled sprayers in the USA. These machines will be the first on the market in Central Europe this year. From spring 2023 See & Spray will be available on a limited basis for the European R900i series trailed sprayers with 36- and 39-meter booms and will then be offered as an option for various John Deere sprayers from Horst in the future.

Components required for use on R9001 trailed sprayers:

• PowrSpray system

• Pressure recirculation booms

• TerrainCommand Pro

• Individual nozzle control

• JDLink agricultural management system

• Gen 4 display

• StarFire 7000 receiver