Precision Planting debuts sprayer technology project pipeline

Innovations

Precision Planting announced their move into the sprayer market during the 2022 Precision Planting Winter Conference this week.

The company unveiled several projects focused on improving sprayer operation and data collection.

The ReClaim boom priming and recirculation system is designed to circulate tax mixes through the booms and back to the tank eliminating the need to spray chemical on the ground during priming. ReClaim is engaged through a single rocker switch in the cab and can retrofit onto an existing sprayer with electric or standard nozzles. It is expected to be commercially available later this year.

Precision Planting also introduced the Symphony Nozzle Control System which allows the sprayer to maintain constant pressure even when changing rates or speed. The system also allows for better swath control and turn compensation for consistent spray coverage. Symphony is controlled by the Precision Planting Gen3 20/20 system and will be field tested again in the spring of 2022.

The company is also working on multiple improvements to sprayers through vision based technologies. Boom cameras and software powered by the 20/20 Gen3 system will also be tested further this spring to offer:

Vision-Based Guidance: Post spraying crops is a high-fatigue job on the farm, often with the operator hand driving the sprayer to keep from running over crops. Vision guidance steers the sprayer in the crop rows, allowing the operator to focus on sprayer operations and not on steering, all while preventing running over crops and providing a significant reduction in operator fatigue.

Vision Scouting: One of the best times to check for even crop emergence and stand counts is when most farmers make a post-emergence spray pass. Vision-based scouting will provide farmers with a snapshot of their stand count in the field and information about how evenly the crops emerged, letting them know if there are areas of the field to which they should pay more attention.

Vision-based Weed ID: Vision-based weed ID uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to see and categorize each plant seen in the field as a crop, a broadleaf weed, or a grass weed. With this information, a map of weed pressure can be created that allows farmers to understand the type of weeds and the variability in pressure across the field.

Targeted spraying technology: Precision Planting’s Symphony Nozzle control system is being designed to pair with the Precision Planting vision module for targeted spraying.

Knowing the importance of residual herbicide application to growers, Precision Planting is actively researching the the best way to spot spray growing weeds while at the same time laying down a blanket residual herbicide to control emerging weeds.