New vision-based plant detection technology released by John Deere this year was developed through projects supported by CRDC with researchers from the University of Southern Queensland (USQ).
The See & Spray SelectTM technology, integrated into John Deere’s new 400 and 600 series sprayers is the only technology of its type available in Australia and the industry’s first factory-installed, targeted spray solution.
See & Spray Select camera technology rapidly detects green plants within fallow ground and automatically triggers an application to those plants. In doing so, it achieves a similar hit rate to traditional broadcast spraying but uses, on average, 77 percent less herbicide. Operators can apply complex tank mixes more efficiently and can switch from targeted to broadcast spraying, without the need to leave the cab.
The initial experimental work to develop the vision-based plant detection technology was funded through a combination of industry research projects with CRDC, Sugar Research Australia, Hort Innovation, and USQ. USQ’s Dr Cheryl McCarthy led the project.
“It’s really exciting that we have a played a part in bringing new tech to a farmer’s toolbox for weed control,” Cheryl said.
“We have helped define technology that is here and now, and industry can see R&D turning into an engineered commercial solution.
“We acknowledge our research partners CRDC, SRA and Hort Innovation as well as the collaboration with John Deere (USA) in achieving a successful outcome for industry.”
CRDC R&D Manager Susan Maas said the technology is a good fit for managing rogue cotton in fallows and rotation crops.
“We worked with USQ on case studies that were cotton industry specific,” she said.
“The partnership has let us bring those lessons together and work to find a solution that has broad application.”
USQ Centre for Agricultural Engineering Director Professor Craig Baillie said the technology was an excellent example of Australian research and innovation having global application, enabling Australian farmers to be at the forefront of transformative ag tech.
“Industry collaborations such as this assist to sustain the development of future technologies and products which will transform agricultural industries over the years to come,” he said.
USQ provided the experimental technology underlying See & Spray Select three years ago, which John Deere further developed and tested across farms in the United States, Canada, and Australia before its global release.
John Deere Australia/New Zealand Managing Director Luke Chandler said collaborations such as this are a powerful pathway to helping farmers around the world unlock the value of targeted and applied agricultural technology.
“We are delighted to have collaborated with USQ to develop industry-leading innovation here in Australia that has potential to deliver positive and impactful changes for farmers globally,” he said.
“The path to greater efficiency, profitability and sustainability begins in the paddock.
“It is through these types of collaborations that we can create practical, simple-to-use tools and technologies that save time and input costs, and reduce impact on the natural environment, for a higher performing farm sector.”
