17 “As the sprayer is passing through the field with those cameras turned on, there’s a new data layer just to give (farmers) some more insights on what’s happening in the field throughout the season and where they may want to take some proactive moves.” John Deere is also bringing AutoTrac updates to its application equipment. AutoTrac Turn Automation, available for John Deere and Hagie sprayers and spreaders, helps ensure consistent and accurate turns at the end of each pass. And farmers can customize their setups. “It’s really just going to enhance the precision and also the efficiency of the machine,” Ladd said. “And so, as the operator is going into the turn, they can preset their turn buffer, or the overall width of the turn, and the system can really take over and make sure they stay on that line to avoid over application to mitigate crop damage or excess rollover.” Farmers with John Deere 400R and 600R series selfpropelled sprayers, 800R floaters, or Hagie STS12, STS16, and STS20 sprayers, model year 2022 and newer, can purchase this technology. The tech is included with Automation 4.0 on Gen4 displays and the G5 Advanced license for machines with G5 displays. In addition, farmers can benefit from AutoTrac Vision 2.0. This represents an overhaul of the existing AutoTrac Vision 1.0 system, Ladd says. “It’s a new stereo camera (and) mono camera combination that is working in conjunction to maintain pinpoint accuracy of our sprayer tires as we complete our application passes,” Ladd said. With the previous system, farmers would have to complete field by field calibrations. With the new version, the machine can calibrate once and have continuous accuracy. And farmers can bring this system into the field earlier than its predecessor, Ladd said. “Now we can get in at up to four inches of crop emergence, so the system at four inches or above will be able to maintain the position of the sprayer going through the field, and that’ll be consistent all the way up through nearly 90 percent crop canopy,” he said. AutoTrac Vision 2.0 also has a maximum speed of 22mph and can handle slopes up to 6°. It’s available on model year 2026 John Deere 400R and 600R sprayers only. ExactApply is also receiving updates. The system’s new multi-rate capability, paired with a prescription, helps operators perform multiple application rates across the whole boom in up to 11 specific sections. “At any given point in field, you may have a certain section where you only want to apply 10 gallons an acre, and then elsewhere on the boom at that same time you want to apply more or less,” Ladd said. “Everything that we’re doing with ExactApply multi-rate has effectively been pre-decided by that prescription that is loaded into the sprayer that is informing the machine on when and where to vary the rate of application.” These upgrades are available as a software update for model year 2023-2025 400R and 600R sprayers and will come factory installed for model year 2026 with updated software. Farmers interested in learning more about any of these tech upgrades are encouraged to contact their local John Deere dealer. Ladd discusses more about these updates in this video. | pag WATCH THE VIDEO PHOTO: John Deere
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