Bad news for weeds. Good news for efficiency. 🌱😏 - Farm & Curious

3 Aug 2026 · 2 min

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2:10

The video explains John Deere’s See’n Spray Select system, a precision weed‑control technology that replaces blanket spraying with targeted application. Cameras mounted on a 36‑meter spray boom (one per meter) capture high‑resolution images a few meters ahead, and on‑board processors analyze multiple images in milliseconds to decide whether each nozzle should fire. The system uses simple color‑based classification—green indicates weed (spray), brown indicates soil (no spray)—and can even detect tiny leaves. It can be programmed to recognize specific crops (corn, beets, potatoes) so that crop foliage is ignored. Each camera has its own light, enabling reliable operation at night. The rapid decision loop (≈200 ms) controls 16 individual nozzles per boom. The result is up to a 70 % reduction in herbicide use, delivering environmental benefits (soil, water, biodiversity) and significant cost savings, especially for spray‑intensive crops. Developed since the early 2010s, tested in the USA and Europe, and commercially available since 2024, See’n Spray Select is positioned as a game‑changing tool for modern agriculture.

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Until now, weed spraying meant driving across the field and spraying everything, regardless of whether weeds are growing there or not. See'n Spray Select does things completely differently. There are cameras on the spray boom, one per meter. With a width of 36 meters, that means 36 eyes constantly scanning what is actually in the field. The cameras look a few meters ahead and provide high-resolution images in real time. The computer has only milliseconds to decide: weed or no weed, and then the nozzle either opens or stays closed. Detection is based on colors. Green means weed, which means spray. Brown means soil, which means do nothing. And the system even reacts to leaves smaller than a fingernail. And we are talking about your little finger here. And now for the real highlight. You can tell the system what is good, in other words, what does not need to be sprayed. And it can distinguish between different crops, whether rows of corn, beets, or potatoes. The computer recognizes this green is part of the crop, so hands off. Only the weeds are treated. The whole thing runs on enormous computing power. Several processors analyze the camera images, 8 images each. A computer that in turn controls 16 individual nozzles, all in around 200 milliseconds. That's as fast as the blink of an eye. Truly impressive. Each camera even has its own light. This ensures that See Spray Select works reliably even at night. And the result? Up to 70% less crop protection product required. Good for the environment, good for your wallet, and good for anyone who wants to work as efficiently as possible. Not only does this benefit the soil, water, and biodiversity, but it is also an economic factor, as sprays are among the most expensive agricultural inputs in crop cultivation. The investment pays for itself quickly, particularly when it comes to spray-intensive crops. After all, when numerous passes are required, every liter of spray saved makes a difference. John Deere has been working on See Spray Select technology since the early 2010s. It was only after years of testing in the USA and extensive fine-tuning in Europe that the system was ready for practical use. The system has been officially available since 2024 and is currently changing the way we control weeds. Now you know how to take your weed control game to the next level. Spray only where needed. That is the precision of See Spray Select. Stay smart, stay agricultural.