Photo courtesy of John Deere

Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice

John Deere acquired Smart Apply Inc.—a precision spraying equipment company—on July 13, citing that the technology will allow the company to gain insight into high-value crop production. According to Dustin Lemmon, John Deere’s public relations manager, Smart Apply technology is based on research and field testing by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as well as multiple universities. 

Almost 95% of the pesticides produced are used in agriculture for crop protection, according to a study from the National Library of Medicine. While this results in higher crop production, waste and runoff can pose a threat to human and environmental health. The goal of precision sprayers is to mitigate problems high-value crop growers face as well as to increase efficiency, precision, and profitability, Lemmon explained. 

John Deere began working with Smart Apply in 2020 to provide John Deere dealers with a durable air-blast sprayer that offers precise coverage.  In a press release, Mike Bailey, director of small tractor and HVC production systems noted that the acquisition is a progression of the partnership.  

“It’s a continuation of our commitment to high-value crop customers and dealers, further expanding a portfolio of solutions to help growers address their biggest challenges around labor, input costs, and regulatory requirements, and achieve environmental goals,” Bailey said. 

Lemmon explained that Smart Apply’s precision spraying technology decreases chemical runoff by roughly 93% as well as reduces airborne drift by 87%. As it sprays, Smart Apply collects data with documentation of its sustainability achievements.  

Smart Apply operates through light detection and ranging technology which analyzes the presence of individual trees and vines in a given area in order to adjust the spray volume. According to the press release, the system adjusts automatically.  

The spray technology is also equipped with GPS-enabled software to capture a broad spectrum of data as it sprays, documenting volume, chemical savings, tree counts, tree health, and the number of acres sprayed.  

The increasing demand for high-value crops presented John Deere with the opportunity to expand its emphasis on supplying precision technology to producers. In a press release, Jerry Johnson, president and CEO at Smart Apply, explained that the precision technology will solve several sustainability issues for high-value producers. 

“Both John Deere and Smart Apply recognize the importance of high-value crops and are committed to investing in innovation and technology that best serves producers who raise high-value crops and helps solve their problems,” Johnson said.  

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