Farmers are rapidly adopting camera-based precision spraying technology, and John Deere’s See & Spray technology is poised for another year of rapid growth in 2025. Josh Rudd explained to Oklahoma Farm Report’s Maisie Carter that the system is already widely used across North America, with “more than 1,000 See & Spray machines in operation,” covering more than “5 million acres,” which he noted is “larger than the state of New Jersey.” Despite heavy spring rains that led to weed proliferation, Rudd said farmers are still saving “nearly 50 percent” on herbicide use—the equivalent of “saving approximately 30 million gallons of herbicide mixture this year.”
Rad emphasized that cost savings are only part of its value. He said many forward-thinking farmers are using See & Spray to reduce input costs, “reinvesting those savings into projects to improve weed control or seed bank improvements.” He added that even more impressive is the significant yield increase achieved with this technology: “We continue to see… an average increase of 2 bushels per acre, with soybean yields increasing by as much as 4.8 bushels per acre.” He explained that reducing unnecessary herbicide use in crops “is already delivering measurable, real-time yield gains this year.”
The technology will be further refined in 2025 through a free software update aimed at increasing speed, expanding crop compatibility, and improving performance. Rad highlighted three improvements: a higher boom height threshold for “foliar spraying”; higher operating speeds, “from 12 mph to 15 mph”; and a smaller minimum row spacing, now allowing for “20-inch row spacing” for corn. He stated that these ongoing updates demonstrate that See & Spray “will continue to improve over time… year after year, improving its capabilities.”
Looking ahead, farmer input remains central to the development of next-generation “surveillance spraying” systems. Rad says that at every major agricultural show, he identifies “10-15 new issues we need to focus on.” Farmers want the system expanded to cover crops such as wheat, canola, flax, barley, peanuts, sugar beets, and potatoes, and for the cameras to provide more than just weed detection. “They want more information about the overall health of the crop… for example, pest risk, potential diseases, or fungal infections,” he emphasizes, noting that providing useful seasonal information is a key area of development.
Rad also addressed common misconceptions about camera-based spraying technology. He said some farmers still believe in the adage “a picture is worth a thousand words,” especially after learning that a system operating at 15 mph can detect “weeds as small as a quarter inch.” He recommended attending field days and seeing for yourself. For farmers considering this technology, Rad offered important advice: “If you’re interested in ‘vision spraying,’ you need to plan ahead.” He emphasized that farmers should incorporate this technology into their winter management discussions to understand that “these savings will change not only the products we use… but also the quantity we use,” thereby maximizing their return on investment next season.
Post time: Dec-30-2025