Targeting weeds By spraying only weeds in fallow ground, See & Spray Select can help farmers reduce nonresidual, preemergence herbicide use by 77%. By
5/21/2021 Making every pass in the field more economically feasible and optimizing the systems with which they farm is paramount for farmers. To help farmers achieve that, John Deere is investing in technology that ensures every plant has an equal opportunity to be as robust as it can be in the field while using the least amount of inputs possible.
See & Spray Select Acquired by John Deere in 2017, See & Spray uses computer vision and machine learning to precisely spray herbicides only where weeds are present.
Gil Gullickson On the surface, such systems that greatly reduce herbicide may seem like bad news for herbicide manufacturers. Not exactly. Over time, Bayer Crop Science will expand selling outcomes, says Bob Reiter, who heads research and development (R&D) for Bayer Crop Science and gave a briefing to the agricultural media on Bayer’s technology pipeline. By selling outcomes rather than volume, the amount of product sold pales compared with the results produced. “In one respect, people might look at it as a threat,” says Reiter. “I actually look at it as an opportunity for us to be able to work with those equipment providers.”
Compiled by Candace Krebs
Celebrate “Meat-In Day” on March 20
Cities, counties, community organizations, restaurants, grocers and other businesses plan to fire up their grills, hold barbecues and celebrate the meat industry on March 20 in response to a proclamation by Colorado Governor Jared Polis declaring it “Meat Out Day.” The language in the proclamation, which is backed by a group called Farm Animal Rights Movement, claims a plant-based diet can “protect the environment by reducing our carbon footprint, preserving forests, grasslands, and wildlife habitats, and reduces pollution of waterways.” Additionally, it suggests that “removing animal products from our diets reduces the risk of various ailments, including heart disease, high-blood pressure, stroke, various cancers, and diabetes.” In response, the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association launched a fundraising campaign, accepting donations of $200, of which $50 will go directly to support feeding hungry children
Courtesy of John Deere
GOING BIG: John Deere launches its first See and Spray commercial tech, a major new planter system, 8 and 9 Series tractor upgrades, all-new Hagie sprayers and new John Deere sprayers. The company calls it the single, largest product launch in its history. For what it calls the largest product launch in its history, Deere is carving a new path for tech, tractors, sprayers, and planters.
A few years ago, John Deere went all in on ag technology from appearing at the big CES to collaborating with small startups focused on innovative areas of agriculture. And while the company has been telling the story of ag technology in new places, its engineers and designers have been hard at work, too. As spring nears, John Deere is unveiling what it calls its largest product rollout ever, and there s plenty to see.