Responsible use of spraying technology aligns with sustainable farming practices by protecting crops, conserving resources and minimizing the environmental impact.

After all, targeted spraying allows for precise application of pesticides, reduces the overall amount used and minimizes potential harm to beneficial insects and surrounding ecosystems.

Controlling the application rate

Smart Apply, a kit that can be added to virtually any new or used air blast, over-the-row or GUSS autonomous sprayer, combines LiDAR (light detection and ranging)- powered precision spraying with automated data collection of each spray event, unique in the industry, according to Smart Apply. 

Gary Vandenbark, chief engineer of Indianapolis-based Smart Apply, works with fruit and nut growers in their orchards and was instrumental in creating the Smart Apply System, the development of GEN2 and ongoing enhancements.

“If you think about a tree or vine crop, we’re really trying to spray the foliage or canopy, but everything that has been developed has always been about gallons per acre,” he said. Vandenbark explains how Smart Apply’s LiDAR senses the presence of trees/vines, adjusting spray volume based on size and density of individual plants to optimize protection and avoid over spraying. “You can also generate great savings by not spraying the air or the ground,” he said.

There are numerous operational and sustainability benefits of the system. For instance, Vandenbark noted how Smart Apply reduces chemical use and costs by an average of 50%, water use by an average of 50%, cuts runoff up to 92% and airborne drift by up to 87%.

“We use pulse width modulation and that gives us the ability to do a variable rate application on an individual nozzle basis,” Vandenbark said. “If you have 20 vertical nozzles on each side of the sprayer, we can use the LiDAR to break up the zones as we look at the canopy and utilize the spray nozzles.”

The system was invented in 2006, running by 2009, and tested for 12 years by the USDA before it was commercialized by Smart Apply in 2019 for the industry, so it’s still fairly new.

“We have the ability to count trees, look at density volumes on different areas of the field and things of that sort, look at the tree height and start taking historical data and look at tree growth or density history,” Vandenbark said. “With individual nozzle management, you have the ability to control the application rate relative to location on the tree. So, you can increase or decrease the volume from side to side or top to bottom.”

Smart Apply was designed for apples, stone fruits, pears, grapes, bush berries, tree nut crops and more. Smart Apply runs off of an app and growers can choose from multiple languages, including English and Spanish.

In the mist

For more than 40 years, A1 Mist Sprayers has been perfecting ideal sprayers for eradicating a wide range of diseases and pests that can affect fruit and nut crops.

“Our mist sprayers allow you to effortlessly provide uniform coverage on your trees with less chemical and water usage,” said Jon Kulzer, product manager for Ponca, Nebraska-based A1 Mist Sprayer. “With a wide range of models and accessories, our mist sprayers can adapt to fit one’s individual needs.”

In 2024, A1 Mist Sprayers is focusing on continuously enhancing its mist sprayers to be more user-friendly and durable, ensuring they perform season after season.

“When we began manufacturing mist sprayers, our focus was on PTO (power take-off) options designed for use with tractors,” Kulzer said.“As technology advanced, we expanded our offerings to include gas engines for transportation with ATVs, UTVs and other commercial vehicles. This flexibility allows our users to get the job done based on their available resources.”

One of the biggest benefits of the company’s mist sprayers is their flexibility to mist spray a wide range of applications, regardless of height. Depending on the model, users can mist up to 100 feet and it can be used for all tree care.

“Mist sprayers are crucial as they provide larger, uniform coverage, protecting your investment from diseases, fungus and pests,” Kulzer said. “Additionally, they reduce your use of chemicals and water, providing savings across the board.”

Electrostatic spraying

Willie Hartman, president and CEO of Mt. Angel, Oregon-based OnTarget Spray Systems, noted his company is solely focused on electrostatic spraying in agriculture. OnTarget has designed models for 14 specialty crops.

“We have about 45 different models to serve specialty crops,” he said, explaining the sprays harness the gravity-defying power of electrostatic cling to uniformly coat in half the time, with an 80% reduction of water, and less material waste. Plus, more chemical hits the target when it is applied electrostatically, as opposed to conventional sprayers, where more product moves into the atmosphere or runs off on the ground.

“Our sprayers enable farmers to target three specific zones,” Hartman said. The precise and uniform application maximizes chemical efficiencies and optimizes spray effectiveness against plant diseases and insects, he said. 

“Sun protection is critical for many crops and our unique uniform coverage gets the job done,” he said. “We also use half as much diesel compared to an air blast and we usually spray two to three times more acres per day, which helps with labor challenges and labor cost. Our customers appreciate the time savings and reduce fuel costs.”

Regardless of the sprayer growers go with, effective pest control will help maximize crop yield by preventing damage from pests and diseases, which can otherwise reduce the quantity and quality of the nuts.

Article written by Keith Loria

A graduate of the University of Miami, Keith Loria is an award-winning journalist who has been writing for almost 20 years. View his recent writing at keithloria.contently.com

The post Smart tech wipes out pests: The latest trends in spraying automation appeared first on Fruit Growers News.

One of the biggest help to growers these days are mobile apps, which can help farmers achieve optimized irrigation, targeted fertilization and enhanced field monitoring. With the use of a phone, growers can uncover a host of information and save themselves time and money in the process.

AgProz

AgProz offers software and mobile solutions that provide accurate and responsive crop acreage data, reliable marketing resources and analytics that help growers of all segments.

“We’re more tied to vendors and companies who are trying to find growers,” said John Krum, founder and CEO of AgProz. 

Krum started the company with the idea of overlaying agriculture data on a map, similar to Zillow for real estate. 

“With AgProz, what you’re able to do is from a map see how many acres a grower has, what kind of props are farmed, as well as a name and contact info,” Krum said. “Once I was able to pull out this information, I was no longer going in blind about what growers I could get in front of and help. It empowers companies like John Deere and others. It keeps the right people in front of the right growers.” 

The core product is the app, and now the data is being leveraged more from a marketing lens as a workforce tool.

“You can track certain things inside the app and navigating the workflow before doing follow-ups,” Krum said.

Doktar

Regardless of the crop focus — tree fruits, nuts, vegetables — Netherlands-based Doktar’s mobile app solutions help farmers make decisions on real-time data for precision farming and smart ag.

IoTrack is a mobile application that enables the management of the company’s Filiz Agricultural Sensor Station and PestTrap Digital Pest Tracking Station from a single platform. 

“Users can track their data flow and receive instant notifications from IoT-enabled devices, allowing them to make informed decisions and enhance efficiency,” said Tanzer Bilgen, CEO for Doktar.

Meanwhile, PestTrap is an IoT pest-tracking station that utilizes machine learning to accurately identify and count pests in real-time. It is suitable for use in fields, orchards, greenhouses, warehouses and forests. 

“With sticky paper and an integrated camera, PestTrap captures daily images and accurately identifies pest types,” Bilgen said. “Integrated with the IoTrack mobile application, PestTrap enables effortless remote tracking and sends notifications when pest levels reach a risk threshold.”

Users of PestTrap receive high-resolution images with its 5MP camera and can adjust the image frequency and timing options for more precise monitoring. 

“They can view pest species distribution and 48-hour spraying suitability assessments to take timely actions that reduce the economic impact of pests and optimize yields,” Bilgen said. “PestTrap’s machine learning algorithm recognizes region-specific pests, tracks their developmental cycle and learns to identify new pests accurately within two weeks.”

Both IoTrack and Orbit, an app that helps farmers monitor the health and development of their crops and identify underdeveloped, water-stressed or over-irrigated areas, enable farmers to view all data on their homepage and spot problems immediately.

“Overall, IoTrack helps implement practices for precision agriculture by instantly controlling irrigation problems, disease risks, microclimate weather conditions, calculating advanced agricultural metrics, and potential pest infestations,” Bilgen said. The app also helps track the timing of irrigation, spraying, and phenological stage changes in the field by recording them on time.

“Health, inspection and water stress maps are crucial,” Bilgen said. “With Orbit, you can monitor the weather hourly with the live precipitation and storm tracking feature and take timely precautions with frost risk and fungal disease risk notifications.”

Barn Owl Technologies

Barn Owl Technologies builds physical hardware that acts as an automatic scouting tool that helps growers with insect monitoring and provides early timing for growers to make early decisions for insect pest management.

“It will lead to a reduction on bug sprays and increase production,” said Richard Chen, Barn Owl Technologies’ president. “We are working with apple growers in Massachusetts and target harmful pests such as oriental fruit moth, codling moth, Obliquebanded leafroller, plum curculio, apple maggot and brown marmorated stink bug.”

The scouting can be implemented via a mobile app and provides first arrival dates (biofix) and weekly insect counting.

“Scouting insects is usually a weekly job for growers, but if they mess up the first arrival date, they spray all season long,” Chen said. “Finding first arrival date for growers requires them to scout every day, which is not feasible.” 

The company is also currently building an automatic trapping system for Colorado potato beetles and focusing its efforts on ground and crawling insects. 

One of the vegetable growers told Chen production by can be increased 25%-50% when early arrival dates for potato beetles are discovered, he said. 

Irrigation control

Other popular mobile apps include FieldNET Mobile, Agrobase and Pospera.

FieldNET Mobile allows growers to monitor and control irrigation systems from a mobile device, improving water efficiency and crop health. 

Agrobase, a crop protection database, provides comprehensive pest and disease identification, weed identification, plus agricultural news and trends.

Prospera offers pivot irrigation monitoring from an app, helping in irrigation planning and control.

Optical sorting equipment

Optical sorters are another area experiencing much innovation, with a big trend being the integration of AI, offering results akin to human inspection but at a significantly faster pace.

“This advancement involves the use of cameras with quicker processors to reduce collateral loss resulting from misdetection,” said Oscar Sandoval, California senior regional account manager at AMVT. “In response to this trend, our company has embraced AI by incorporating this feature into most of our sorter offerings, catering not only to bulk materials but also packaged goods. This addition aids in detecting issues such as improperly sealed bags or loosely capped jars, enhancing the sorting process for fruit/nut crop growers.”

These solutions ensure improved quality and cleanliness of the final product for consumers, minimizing the loss of good products in the reject pile. Ultimately, they enable growers to preserve a higher quantity of top-quality products.

“Compared to previous generations, the newer optical sorting equipment goes beyond traditional RGB technology, which relies on color differentiation,” Sandoval said. “The latest models analyze factors like size, color, texture and length to achieve precise separation, mirroring the discernment of the human eye utilizing AI.”

Another company taking advantage of AI is Taranis, which offers an advanced Open-Source Intelligence tool that utilizes AI and aerial imaging to monitor crops at higher resolutions than were done historically. This helps better detect pest issues, diseases and nutrient deficiencies early, enabling timely interventions.   

As agriculture continues to evolve with technological advancements including mobile apps, IoT devices, and AI-driven solutions, the future of farming is not just about innovation, it’s about precision, efficiency and sustainability for growers worldwide.

By Keith Loria

A graduate of the University of Miami, Keith Loria is an award-winning journalist who has been writing for almost 20 years. View his recent writing at keithloria.contently.com

The post Talking tech: New app innovations aid growers appeared first on Fruit Growers News.

FieldWatch, a nonprofit that provides the service in 24 states and one Canadian province, is progressing with adding Georgia to the program, and several other states have expressed interest. FieldWatch databases give applicators and growers the ability to check surrounding areas before they spray to minimize the risk of chemical drift that could compromise organic acreage or harm bees.

FieldWatch offers several registries: DriftWatch, for specialty crops; CropCheck, for row crops; BeeCheck, for beekeepers; and SeedFieldCheck, for seed companies to map the location of field workers. FieldCheck is a master map of those registries, for applicators to consult before aerial or ground spraying.

Growers can include personal contact information, and Curt Hadley, FieldWatch business development director, said it’s opening a dialogue between people who apply synthetic crop products for a living, and the organic community and beekeepers.

“I’ve said that in agriculture, 99 out of every 100 people want to do the right things and we’re giving everybody a platform to have an opportunity to do the right thing, so it’s refreshing that we can have those conversations and bring people together where historically we haven’t,” Hadley said.

Surveys from users bear this out, Hadley said, and even when there is no direct communication, the platform works.

“What we tell people is that just because somebody isn’t reaching out to you and making a phone call, does not mean they’re not modifying their behaviors based on what they see,” Hadley said. “It makes a huge difference.”

How it works

The mapping interface is Google Maps-driven and centers around users mapping their crops or apiary sites through a simple web-based interface. Larger growers who have existing map data in other farm management systems can use that data. Growers can upload as many acres/fields by crop type as they have. Growers must enter their field boundaries on a laptop/desktop computer, but beekeepers can use a mobile app to enter hive locations.

Hadley meets with current and potential user groups, and although states handle the program differently, a state agency must be involved to sign the contract. Although growers/beekeepers can control their data, every acre is vetted to ensure the program’s integrity. The goal is to have each state’s online presence to carry its department of agriculture seal.

“So nothing new goes on the map in any given state until somebody at the state level looks at it, scrutinizes it, and either kicks it back, or looks at it and says it’s good,” Hadley said.

Organic acreage must be certified by a USDA-approved certification agency.

Although use of the registry is mostly voluntary, at least one state, Kansas, requires personnel at the county level to consult FieldCheck before spraying for noxious weeds, Hadley said. Most states enrolled in the program include FieldWatch information in their mandatory pesticide certification training.

A big boost to the use of FieldWatch registries comes from precision agriculture platforms; Hadley said more than a dozen companies offer access as part of their software packages. All told, a conservative estimate of users is about 50,000, he said.

The service relies on growers and beekeepers to maintain their data each year.

“One of the things that we do every year without fail is, if you had something mapped last year, in the first quarter of the ensuing year, we send you emails and we bully you, browbeat you, and make sure that you validate, update, whatever the case might be — but if you take no action on those fields they disappear from the maps,” Hadley said.

— Chris Koger, contributing editor

The post FieldWatch highlights locations of organic crops, bees appeared first on Fruit Growers News.

The Organic Produce Summit (OPS) has made some changes to this year’s show, including the addition of a fireside chat.

Scheduled for July 10-11 in Monterey, California, OPS is the only event exclusively dedicated to connecting buyers and suppliers in the organic fresh produce industry, according to a news release.

At the eighth annual event, the final keynote, “Retail Fireside Chat,” will take place on July 11 following a morning keynote.

In the fireside chat keynote, industry experts will tackle critical challenges in boosting retail sales. Panelists include Robby Cruz, vice president of produce at Target and Patrick Haines, vice president of produce at United Natural Foods.

Kevin Coupe, who writes at Morning News Beat.com and teaches at Portland State University’s Center for Retail Leadership in Oregon, is scheduled to moderate the panel. The panelists will explore industry topics including the organic program evolution, consumer preferences and the impact of technology on organic operations.

The panel will also tackle changing consumer behaviors and the role of artificial intelligence in growing both organic and overall produce sales.

Education: Labeling at retail

In addition, a new educational panel discussion has been set up. “Cracking the Code: Label Messaging at Retail” will delve into the many keywords consumers face when shopping for fresh produce, including organic, pesticide-free, locally grown and sustainable. The panel will also explore whether this type of messaging resonates or confuses customers.

The session will address whether the industry is successfully navigating the buzzwords and marketing strategies, examine how to better articulate the advantages of organic produce and communicate how the products are grown, according to the release.

Panelists include

• Joe Merenda, CEO at Misionero
• Kim Chackal, co-owner and director of sales & marketing at Equifruit
• Mary Heslep, senior vice president at Ten Acre Marketing
• Michael La Kier, vice president of brand development at IGA Brands.

OPS 2024 also includes a selection of field tours for qualified retailers and buyers, an opening night reception and a sold-out trade show floor featuring more than 175 producers and processors of organic fresh produce from across North America and the globe.

OPS 2024 is a two-day event specifically designed to bring together organic fresh produce growers, shippers and processors with retailers and buying organizations from across North America.

For more information, visit the Organic Produce Summit website.

The post Organic Produce Summit announces changes appeared first on Fruit Growers News.

Results of the latest labor survey, conducted among fruit and vegetable growers across the U.S., shed light on the ongoing challenges faced by growers and the strategies being considered to navigate them.

Comparison with previous years

In 2019, a majority (59%) of respondents reported having enough labor, while 41% faced shortages, according to the annual fruit and vegetable labor survey, conducted by Fruit Growers News and its sister publication, Vegetable Growers News.

Fast forward to 2023, and the balance has shifted, with 46% reporting adequate labor. This trend continued into 2024, indicating a persistent struggle for growers to meet specific labor needs.

H-2A usage and outsourcing trends

The H-2A program remains a vital resource for many growers. In 2024, exactly half of respondents reported utilizing H-2A labor. Interestingly, a significant portion (83%) of those employing H-2A workers opted to outsource the recruiting process. However, when it came to fully outsourcing the H-2A process and labor management, opinions were divided, with 49% choosing this route.

“The new H-2A legal process and wages have caused my company to completely outsource

our labor force to handle recruitment,” a grower wrote. “With increased wages and labor contractor fees, I have been forced to reduce the quantity of my workforce. A smaller workforce means I have to manage harvest more efficiently and spend more money to work overtime. Overall, the new wages and legal process has significantly cut into my bottom line and margins.”

Impact of legal process and wage requirements

The introduction of new legal processes and wage requirements has significantly influenced growers’ use of the H-2A program. Respondents expressed various concerns, which can be categorized into several common themes.

Cost and affordability: Nearly half of the respondents (44%) cited concerns about the increasing costs associated with the H-2A program, making it challenging to afford.

“The increasing costs of the program and wages continues to put some growers at competitive

disadvantage to others,” a grower stated. “If you are able to raise prices to offset increased costs, then you may be able to come out ahead but if you are a price taker then you can’t.”.

“New wage is too high,” another grower responded. “Labor is up, fertilizers up, shipping up, chemicals up, etc., food in the stores is up, but I’m still getting the same amount for our veggies. If this keeps going and more farmers go under and are no longer farming where will our SAFE food come from? Something needs to be done with the H-2A wage.”

Wage increases are pressing agricultural employers. 

“Georgia is becoming increasingly reliant on the (H-2A) program especially in terms of fruit and vegetable production,” said Chris Butts, vice president of Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association. “Our industry is faced with double-digit wage increases and regulatory burdens are increasing. Economically, it is becoming unviable to use H-2A, but unfortunately it is our only option … we are in a bad place right now.”

Impact on profitability: For 21% of respondents, the new wage requirements were highlighted as negatively affecting their profitability and sustainability. 

“The Adverse Wage Rate is not affordable for us,” a grower stated.. Our commodity prices are not increasing at the rates to afford this wage. We are forced to raise less hand-harvested crops.” 

“Makes me wonder why!,” another grower stated. “Why do these pay rates keep increasing? Especially, since they are basing these numbers off a workforce of U.S. workers that does not exist. I would like to continue to grow my business, but I will not be able to due to new added costs on labor.”

— By Debbie Eisele and Doug Ohlemeier

The post Labor report: Fruit and vegetable growers voice concerns in 2024 labor survey appeared first on Fruit Growers News.

MSU’s 2024 preharvest Extension meeting is scheduled for June 25 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Trevor Nichols Research Center in Fennville, Michigan.

The event will include a brief industry update, and presentations from MSU blueberry specialists with recommendations on harvest-time insect and disease management, new plantings, irrigation, and WPS during harvest. If time allows, organizers plan to visit ongoing trials in the Trevor Nichols Research Center’s experimental plots.

The event will offer two restricted use pesticide (RUP) credits for growers attending the meeting.

There is no cost for attending, but organizers recommend preregistering online. Growers can preregister at: events.anr.msu.edu/BlueberryPreHarvest2024/

The preregistration should help organizers estimate attendance, handouts, dinner and refreshments. Sign up will begin at 5:30 p.m. and a light dinner of pizza is scheduled to be served before the meeting begins.

For more information, contact Carlos Garcia-Salazar, MSU Extension small fruit educator at the MSU Extension Agriculture and Agribusiness Institute, Fillmore Complex in Ottawa County at garcias4@msu.edu or Cheyenne Sloan, blueberry and small fruit educator in southwest Michigan at MSU’s Van Buren County Extension office in Paw Paw, Michigan, at sloanche@msu.edu.

The Trevor Nichols Research Center is at 6237 124th Ave, Fennville, MI, 49408.

The post MSU to host 2024 preharvest blueberry Extension twilight meeting appeared first on Fruit Growers News.

Lasseter, a John Deere dealer since 1956, provides equipment and precision ag solutions to farmers across south Georgia from six locations. As demand for ag technology has grown, Lasseter Tractor has built an ag team that works with high-value crop and row crop growers to use ag tech to optimize yields and farm operations.

“We’re very pleased that the Smart Apply System is now represented in south Georgia by Lasseter Tractor. Our goal is to bring the benefits of the Smart Apply System to as many Georgia high-value crop growers as possible,” said Jerry Johnson, CEO for Lasseter Tractor. 

“We are excited to bring the Smart Apply System into our portfolio. In the past, we have struggled to bring precision ag technology into these cropping systems, but partnering with Smart Apply enables us to provide a system to our customers to make their operations more efficient and sustainable,” said Matt Tucker, precision ag manager for Lasseter Tractor. 

The Smart Apply System features LiDAR-enabled precision spraying and automated data collection. It can be retrofitted to various sprayers, replacing continuous spraying with individual nozzle control for precise chemical application on trees or vines based on size and foliage density.

For more information, visit smartapply.com.

The post Smart Apply welcomes Lasseter Tractor as new authorized dealer appeared first on Fruit Growers News.

WSU scientists will lead discussions on weed management practices and discuss the status of current research projects they are working on.

Washington and Idaho pesticide recertification credits will be available for attendees.

The tour will start at the Palouse Conservation Field Station, approximately one mile west of Washington Highway 27 on Pullman Albion Rd.

A social hour will follow the tour from 5-6 pm at WSU’s RJ Cook Agronomy Farm, where the tour concludes.

The post Weed Science Field Tour on June 12 appeared first on Fruit Growers News.

Ag robotics is the focus of a fall northern California FIRA USA farm automation conference.

FIRA USA is returning and is set to provide a convergence of technology in the global AgRobotics sector. 

The third edition of the agricultural robotics conference is scheduled for Oct. 22-24 at the Yolo County Fairgrounds in Woodland, California, 11 miles west of the Sacramento International Airport.

This northern California event offers industry stakeholders an opportunity to view new agricultural technology in action.

FIRA USA was created to foster dialogues among industry leaders, investors, OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and startups to help propel the industry forward, according to a news release.

Growers

• Growers will have the opportunity to engage in roundtable discussions by crop type, led by commodity boards, presenting solutions for vineyards, orchards, vegetables, nuts and more.
• More than 35 autonomous solutions will provide live demos across three zones, covering tasks from weed control to harvesting. This in-action opportunity is co-organized by Western Growers and UC Davis.

Researchers and students

• The Tech & Education Day features keynotes, panels, poster sessions and the Farmbot Challenge.
• Researchers and students will be able to explore the latest advancements in ag robotics through the Tech & Education Day.

Industry professionals

• A variety of networking opportunities will be offered through the event’s Business Days.
• Professionals will have the chance to forge alliances through a variety of exhibitions, conferences and dedicated matchmaking sessions.

Manufacturers

• The California Ag Discovery Tour will run Oct. 17-21.
• This tour will delve into automation nuances across specialty crops in North America.

Investors and start-ups

• FIRA USA will offer pitch sessions and after work events to connect with potential partners and investors.

Previous FIRA USAs were in Fresno, California, and Salinas, California.

FIRA USA will accept pitches and abstracts until June 30. Registration is now open. Register here.

For more information, visit fira-usa.com.

The post FIRA USA to showcase ag robotics in northern California appeared first on Fruit Growers News.

Based in Bakersfield, California, Sanders will provide technical sales support to equipment dealers and growers in Central and Southern California, and the Southwest with a primary focus on Arizona and New Mexico.

Jerry Johnson, CEO for Smart Apply, welcomed Sanders, a California native with 15 years of experience in agriculture and equipment sales.

“California is a growth market for Smart Apply’s precision spray and data system based on the volume of tree fruits, almonds, pistachios and grapes produced, but also because of the state’s emphasis on sustainability and managing water resources,” Johnson said in a news release. “The Southwest is home to major pecan orchards. Noah’s addition is critical to converting more growers to Smart Apply and the significant impact it will have on operations, profitability and sustainability.”

Prior to joining Smart Apply, Sanders was a key accounts sales representative for Kern Machinery in Bakersfield, California, for nearly five years. He worked directly with growers across the San Joaquin Valley, focusing on equipment and precision ag solutions. Sanders earned a bachelor’s in business administration from California State University at Bakersfield.

“I’ve seen firsthand the challenges growers face, and believe Smart Apply can be a game changer with immediate ROI of lower input costs from precision spraying and automation, but also the long-term benefits of data analytics,” Sanders said in the release. “The company is committed to continuing to enhance the system’s functionality that will help high-value crop growers optimize yields in the most efficient ways possible.”

Launched in 2019, Smart Apply’s Intelligent Spray Control System is a LiDAR-enabled precision spraying system with the ability to automatically collect data during each spray event. The Smart Apply System is sold as a kit that can be added to virtually any new or used air blast, over-the-row and GUSS autonomous sprayer. It reduces chemical and water use by an average of 50% while decreasing run off and airborne drift by up to 97% and 83% respectively.

Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Smart Apply is a tech company that provides spray systems and precision data products for high value permanent specialty crops, including tree fruit and nuts. In 2023, John Deere purchased the company.

The post Smart Apply precision spraying adds California staffer appeared first on Fruit Growers News.