Targeted herbicide cost requirements for adoption of See & Spray technology and ways to improve area sprayed

Abstract

Adopting targeted herbicide applications creates a dynamic problem for producers when considering the economic viability of See & Spray. Research was conducted to estimate how weed area, area sprayed, nozzle selection, sensitivity settings, crops, and regions influence potential herbicide savings with the John Deere See & Spray technology. From 2023 through 2024, producers covered over 510,000 ha and sprayed 212,000 ha with See & Spray technology in the United States. Ways to improve herbicide savings via See & Spray included using narrow nozzle angles rather than wider fan angles and adjusting the sensitivity setting to detect less weed area. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) had a higher weed area than soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.; 16.6% vs. 5.1%]. Lower sensitivity settings tended to detect less weed area than higher settings (5.1% at the lowest setting, 9% at the medium setting, and 15.8% at the highest setting). On average, producers needed to spend >$27 ha⁻¹ on herbicides in a single application with See & Spray Premium and >$39 ha⁻¹ with See & Spray Ultimate to economically justify using the technology over a broadcast sprayer. Results indicate that differences in targeted herbicide cost requirements to break even were within $1–$2 ha⁻¹ across regions and within a crop and technology. Ways to improve areas sprayed with targeted applications, factors to consider before application, and insights on ensuring producers’ profitability when adopting this technology are highlighted.